Lenten journal 32

13 March 2016 (5th Sunday of Lent)

Today I honour my mother as I remember her passing a year today. She is still very much missed; and each time I think of her, my love and admiration for her is boundless. 
  

Merciful Like the Father

The motto Merciful Like the Father taken from Lk 6:37-38, is a fitting theme for this extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy 2016 declared by Pope Francis. It encourages us to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure.  

So it is apt that the focal point of today's Gospel (Jn 8:1-11) is on the mercy of Christ to the adulterous woman, brought in by the scribes and Pharisees to be stoned according to their law. But in testing Jesus, they did not for one moment imagined that the tables could be turned on them, when Jesus said, "If anyone of you is without sin, let him cast the first stone." One by one, they walked away. 

I wonder how the woman felt when she found that she was alone with Jesus. Ashamed and helpless, she must have felt a touch of mercy when Jesus asked her, " Where are they? Has no one condemned you?"  And sure enough mercy poured forth when she heard the next word of Jesus: " Neither do I condemn you. Go away and sin no more."

Here, Jesus shows us the perfect love of God, and his infinite mercy. When he forgives us our sins, he will always remind us: "Go and sin no more." We must carry this deep inside our hearts, so that each time we face temptations, these kind words of Jesus will surface to help us overcome them. 


I sing with the choir:
                                    Jesus Lord, I ask for mercy
                                    Let me not implore in vain
                                    All my sins I now detest them
                                    Help me not to sin again.