Reflection by Deacon Matt

Reflection for 5th Sunday of Lent:
 
Isaiah 43:16-21: There’s a clear message here! Our God can and will do all within His power to save God’s people! We’re charged with remembering such incidents of God’s mercy and beneficence all through salvation history. Recalling these miraculous incidents of God’s demonstrations of love and concern should give us hope in challenging times of suffering. When our faith is being tested, we can focus on examples of God’s provisions for His people; even to our own times! Instead of complaining, let’s give God glory, praise and thanks for the many times that we and our loved ones have received God’s blessings!

Psalm 126: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” As prescribed by Isaiah, we recall and rejoice over God’s miraculous power displayed throughout the Exodus. The nation of Israel had been punished in the sight of all the nations, but now, the nation, reconciled, is being exulted, in view of the whole world! We, like the returning people of Israel, can reflect upon and marvel over God’s miraculous intervention to liberate His captive people. Truly, they’ve experienced the full gamut of emotions; from sadness and discouragement… to hope and, ultimately, joy! Reflect how the people “go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown…” Even while sorrowing, they carry “seeds,” (hope and faith in their deliverance from captivity). Lo, the faithful are rewarded for their faith as they enter the Promised Land! Take courage! Have faith! God will deliver us from our burdens, also!

Philippians 3:8-14: St. Paul celebrates his own “deliverance” from a “captivity of attachment to earthly possessions, wealth, power and authority and even, notoriety.” In this fervent letter, Paul proclaims Jesus, as unequivocally, worth the “trade” or “relinquishment” of all earthly things! Paul exults in what he’s received from “the trade;” righteousness through faith in Jesus. This righteousness is the result of a mystical sharing in Christ’s Passion, death and Resurrection. This mystical sharing occurs for faithful souls that unite themselves to Christ in all of their life’s experiences; whether pleasant or challenging.

St. Paul admits in this letter that he hasn’t yet achieved the total mystical union with Christ that he seeks. He expresses a desire and commitment to continue seeking this “mystical union” with Christ, for which he so ardently longs. May we be enabled to find such perfect peace and joy!

John 8:1-11:  We’ve seen a lot in today’s readings about people being delivered from physical captivity in Egypt, and from the captivity of attachment to earthly things and allurements. Now, we have an adulteress delivered from condemnation. Today, it came to me that the accusers of the woman, the scribes and Pharisees are also being delivered. They’re being delivered of their, as yet, unchallenged self-righteousness and hypocrisy! Their public shaming of the woman, caught in adultery displayed their own self-righteousness and lack of humility. None of them could “sinlessly” cast a stone.

Moreover, when Jesus invites “the one without sin” to cast the first stone; we’re being delivered, too… from our own complacency and self-righteous pride. None of us could legitimately cast that stone! Not for us to judge! 

Meditatively, 
Deacon Matt