Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.
“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, by Father Perry.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
(In these Masses, the Cycle A readings are proclaimed, and the scrutiny of the elect is proclaimed and celebrated.)
In the Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, we understand that as Jesus draws closer to his own death, it is really all about giving life, being raised up —
“This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God.”
But it is not just life and new life that we receive; it is also freedom from the power of enslaving sin and death.
It is also to be freed from the many things or powers that bind us, that “tie us up” and restrict us from being the grace-filled and free people of God we have been invited to become.
Jesus’ command is the ultimate command of liberation —
“Untie them and let them go” free.
Do we experience grace freeing us from the enslavement of sin?
If so, how, when, where?
The Cycle C psalm refrain today simply says —
“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.”
This refrain is clearly echoed in each of the readings.
Isaiah is able to think back to Moses’ and the Israelites’ incredible escape from slavery as God led them through the desert and through the waters —
“See, I am doing something new!”
Paul speaks of the great things God has done for him in Christ Jesus —
“For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”
But, could we ever imagine that the woman caught in adultery would walk out of the temple area having been freed by Jesus?
“Has no one condemned you?”
She replied —
“No one, sir.”
The Pharisees were using her as a pawn in an effort to capture Jesus in their “inescapable trap.”
Jesus would either stand for the Law of Moses, in which case all of his preaching about mercy and forgiveness would pretty much be a sham. Or he would stand on his preaching about mercy and forgiveness, and in doing so would negate the Law of Moses.
Finally, they had him! But Jesus, as always, went deeper.
He offered the woman forgiveness and mercy. He challenged all not to judge. He demonstrated simply that all were sinners and in need of God’s mercy. He invited all to see how mercy and forgiveness, not judgment and condemnation, change people’s lives.
We have almost completed our Lent. Only Palm Sunday separates us from today and Easter.
How have we grown? How have we changed? Did we experience God’s mercy and forgiveness in any noticeable way this Lent? Were we a little less judgmental of others this Lent?
Imagine the powerful responses we might hear to any one of these questions if we belonged to a circle of faith. Imagine what we and others might be saying about our experience of Jesus in our own lives.
Let us all taste together the joy of those words coming from the lips of Jesus to each one of us —
“Neither do I condemn you.”
If we truly hear those words, then we, too, can echo the refrain of today’s psalm —
“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.”
Quote of the week |
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” — The Buddha.
