Fifth Sunday of Lent Constant Openings of God …… IS 43: 16-21
Phil 3: 8-14
John 8: 1-11 Dear Sisters, Brothers and Children,
we are delighted to witness and live during this time of our new Holy Father Pope Francis. We thank God for all the Cardinals of the Conclave and the abiding inspiration and assistance of the Holy Spirit. We also pray that the whole Church may continue to grow in proclaiming and living the faith under the Shepherding guidance of Pope Francis. God has offered one more opening through new Holy Father to the world, to the Church and for all of us to uplift the life of poor, ill and oppressed in our community and in society. Before the holy week we are called to learn and turn to the constant openings of God to the humanity.
What did Jesus write on the floor? Why did Pharisees leave the place one by one? Jesus started writing the sins of all Pharisees on the floor so they left one by one.
Jesus challenges them to see the opportunities of God in their life and warn them to blame themselves for the social sin. Corruption, various abuses, different additions and discrimination in the name of gender, faith religion and language are social sin. One is not wholly responsible rather the members of society are accountable such a situation to continue. It also harms both the individual and society. We play the blaming game instead of put an end to it.
I left my parents because they humiliated me for using drugs and no one showed another path!
I stopped going to Church fifteen years ago because of the indifference of my community towards me because I developed addiction but I was not given another opening! I am not able to involve in common and public activities as I am blamed for what I do than not seeing me for what I am! I do not see any opening for me! Who play the blaming game? What blocks the growth of the community and Church? The religious mindset and social stigma are the big hindrances for the static situation and status of any individual, group, community and Church. People, who are particular and fanatic with religious mind set and social stigma, will blame any individual of this kind or group as cause for such social evil. The call is to give another path, option, change and opening to get up and move forwards as God always has constant openings for us.
Isaiah was the voice of God in the first reading. People and elders believed that exile is the end of their life. They are destined to die there. Here Isaiah proclaims the mind and message of God. I have the openings for you as always if you remember how, I offered a new path to your ancestors you will be able to see the new path I have for you. The lord says, I offered the opening to your ancestors when they were slaves in Egypt to move to the promise land. In our journey of 40years in the wilderness, I opened Manna whey they were dying of hunger. I opened water spring from the rock to quench their thirst and dryness. I opened the path of liberation destroying the Egyptian army. Now in a similar way after these 70 years of exile, with the permission and approval of King Cyrus I have an opening for you to move forward, from the struggle of Babylon to the glory of Jerusalem. In this new path towards Jerusalem I will protect you from wild animals and danger. You will see the waters of river along your journey and will be offered food for your path. No one can stop your desire and effort. This will be a new exodus to you. You will walk in the memories of your ancestors who responded to the openings of God towards liberation. There is no permanent exile or slavery rather the opening of God’s path is permanent.
The gospel event was situated in Jerusalem. Jesus was teaching to the people. Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus also to prove their law abiding righteousness brought the woman. Here Pharisees are the stumbling-block for the social sin and evil of that time. They refer Moses and teaching for their own convenience. Death penalty was given for idolatry, murder and adultery. There was discrimination in the letter of the law favoring men blaming only woman. We read the blame of Pharisees, “This woman was caught in the act of adultery”. The act of adultery involves man too. So where is that man? This shows that they were not giving the new path or openings to the person rather causing damage more for the social evil and sin to increase. Women were blamed here for the law game of the Pharisees. If Jesus says that she should be punished then Jesus will be going against Romans as the law does not permit Roman citizen to stone to death. If Jesus favors the woman then He will be ignoring the law and teaching of Moses. Jesus goes beyond the law and religious mind set. Jesus teaches that no one can stop the new opening and path of God offered to each one especially to the afflicted and the oppressed. Our call is to uplift someone from their fall in the society with the new opening. Jesus tells the Pharisees you are cause for her situation. Your interpretation of the law damages the goodness of the community causing evil and division. He tells her, do not stop, do not stand and do not get struck, nothing and no one can stop you if you wish and believe. Jesus tells further, move forward, go in the new opening and the path of goodness and peace. What a way to make a difference in the lives of the oppressed and afflicted in the society. There is no permanent exile, there is no permanent sinner and there is no permanent sinful situation. But there is always permanent constant openings and path of God for always. Every new openings and path is a new exodus for all of us.
“Do not give into pessimism and discouragement that devil offer us every day” this was the statement of our new Holy Father Pope Francis in his address to all the Cardinals this morning (15th March). It is a call to see the new openings of goodness, forgiveness, healing and grace of God. I am sure the positive reaction and overwhelming response from all over the world reveal that. Pope Francis is the choice and path of God to the world and Church today. There are so many new openings we see in Him. He is the first non-European, first Latin-American, and a First Jesuit Pope. He showed to the people that he identifies with them in their struggle and power of goodness. Because He bowed and asked people to pray for him before he could bless them, what a remarkable sign! He also prayed together for his predecessor.
Richard told me that he feels uncomfortable to return to Lord and Church after twenty years of sinful life with addiction. He said he is changed but fear that others may not accept. I said do you feel that Jesus accepts you? He said I think so, I told him this is the right season to get up and respond to the new openings of Jesus in your life, get up and walk forward. There is no permanent fall, there was no permanent exile and there is no permanent evil. But, there is always constant and consistent openings and path of God for all of us. Are we read to get up and move forwards? -Amen.
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