5th Sunday in Lent
SABBATH GUIDE
Fifth Sunday of Lent
First Reading-Is 43:16-21 | Responsorial Psalm - Ps 126 | Second Reading - Phil 3:8-14 | Gospel -Jn 8:1-11
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040322-YearC.cfm
“Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.’” Jn 8:11
Multiple points in the Gospels point out that people were “astonished” by the words of Jesus (ref. Mt 7:28-29, 13:54; Mk 6:2; Lk 4:32). One of those instances to be astonished emerges in today’s Gospel. The Pharisees have set a trap for Jesus. According to Roman law, the Jews were not able to kill anyone. But according to the Law of Moses, the adulteress woman should be stoned. Jesus masterfully escapes their plotting; yet, our Lord’s brilliant response is not just about outwitting the Pharisees, but about sincerely loving and redeeming the woman before Him. To the Pharisees, this woman is not a person but a tool whom they exploit. But it is different with Jesus. The way of the world is to use people. The way of Jesus is to love and respect the invaluable worth of each person. In this encounter with Jesus, the woman’s dignity and beauty are restored under His merciful gaze. Jesus’ command to her to “not sin anymore” is a continuation of the restoration of her dignity. Turning from sin doesn’t limit us, but opens up even more of life in all of its abundance. What seemed the lowest experience possible for this woman becomes a pinnacle moment: she encounters mercy Himself. This Lent let us continue to heed the invitation to encounter the One who is Mercy; let us respond to the call to repent and go and sin no more. Once we have gazed into the eyes of love, how could we ever return to the lies of the world?
What are ways that we see the world use people? Have you ever experienced the pain that comes from being used?
Have you ever had a similar experience: where going through something that seemed unbearable at the time actually drew you closer to Jesus?
What do you think Jesus wrote in the ground (Jn 8:6)?
GUÍA DOMINICAL
Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma
Primera Lectura-Is 43, 16-21 | Salmo Responsorial - Salmo 125 | Segunda Lectura - Fil 3, 8-14 |
Evangelio -Jn 8, 1-11
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040322-YearC.cfm
“Y Jesús le dijo: ‘Tampoco yo te condeno. Vete y ya no vuelvas a pecar’” Jn 8,11
En varios puntos de los Evangelios se señala que la gente se "asombraba" de las palabras de Jesús (ref. Mt 7,28-29, 13,54; Mc 6,2; Lc 4,32). Uno de esos casos de asombro surge en el Evangelio de hoy. Los fariseos le tienden una trampa a Jesús. Según la ley romana, los judíos no podían matar a nadie. Pero según la Ley de Moisés, la mujer adúltera debía ser apedreada. Jesús evade su complot; pero la brillante respuesta de nuestro Señor no consiste sólo en ser más listo que los fariseos, sino en amar y redimir sinceramente a la mujer que tiene enfrente. Para los fariseos, esta mujer no es una persona, sino un instrumento del que se aprovechan. Pero con Jesús es diferente. El camino del mundo es utilizar a las personas. El camino de Jesús es amar y respetar el valor incalculable de cada persona. En este encuentro con Jesús, la dignidad y la belleza de la mujer son restauradas bajo su mirada misericordiosa. La orden de Jesús de "no volver a pecar" es una extensión de la restauración de su dignidad. Abandonar el pecado no nos limita, sino que nos permite disfrutar aún más de la vida en toda su abundancia. Lo que parecía la peor experiencia posible para esta mujer se convierte en un momento culminante: se encuentra con la Misericordia misma. En esta Cuaresma sigamos atentos a la invitación a encontrarnos con Aquel que es Misericordia; respondamos a la llamada a arrepentirnos y no pecar más. Una vez que hemos mirado a los ojos del amor, ¿cómo podríamos volver a las mentiras del mundo?
¿De qué manera vemos que el mundo utiliza a las personas? ¿Has experimentado alguna vez el dolor que se produce al ser utilizado?
¿Alguna vez has tenido una experiencia similar: donde pasar por algo que parecía insoportable en ese momento en realidad te acercó a Jesús?
¿Qué crees que escribió Jesús en el suelo (Jn 8, 6)?
4th Sunday in Lent
“... now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found”
Reflection
Longer than any of the other parables of Jesus, and perhaps the most known and loved, is the so-called Parable of the Prodigal Son. Found only in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus masterfully reveals the expansive heart of the Father, in contrast to the littleness of the hearts of the Pharisees. There is an insight to be gained from each of the three central players. The younger son demands his inheritance early from his father, essentially saying, “I can’t wait around here for you to die,” then completely squanders it. He finally returns home to the father, not from contrition but desperation. Then the older son, seeming at first to be a model of faithfulness and obedience but harboring resentment towards his father and showing his pettiness as he worries about a goat when actually everything the father has is his. Finally, we have the father, patient and enduring, watching and waiting, going out to both of his sons that they might return to his house and realize who they truly are as his beloved children. Many messages are in this parable, but the most foundational, prominent, and indisputable of them all is that we are loved, not for what we do, but for who we are. The father did not love the younger son less despite his sin, and he did not love the older son better because of his obedience. Both were loved, as a result, of the relationship with their father; their identity as his sons. Our Lenten disciplines, indeed, our entire approach to the Christian life, will be barren without a relationship with the Father, realizing who we are as His beloved son or daughter. Lent is not a self-help program but a return to the Father. While this is called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, where “prodigal” means wasteful, reckless, or excessive, it could also be called the Parable of the Prodigal Father who loves so extravagantly. Let us run to His arms, sorrowful for our sin, but filled with confidence in His great mercy and love, and willing to begin again in obedience and faithfulness to Him.
Discussion Questions
Which person in the parable do you identify with the most? Why might that be?
Have you ever experienced being loved just for who you are not what you can do for someone? If so, who was it in your life that showed you that love?
Is there anything preventing you from “returning” to the Father this Lent to receive His love and mercy?
3rd Sunday in Lent
“Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.”
Reflection
Repent. Bear fruit. These two actions encompass the message of the Gospel and the invitation of Lent. To not be overly concerned with the actions of others, as the people in today’s Gospel are preoccupied with the Galileans, but to instead remain focused on what the Lord is asking of us in our lives: repent and bear fruit. Through the act of repentance, we recognize our sin, turn away from it, and return to the Lord. It is like the pruning of a tree: bearing more fruit requires us to remove what is dead and limits our growth. Then we are able to bear more fruit in our lives. St. Paul, in his letter, to the Galatians, writes: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (5:22). This list is not exhaustive of what it means to be fruitful as a Christian, but it is a sound way to reflect on our lives. Trying to turn from sin, endeavoring to stay rooted in Jesus Christ and His Sacraments, and growing in relationship with Him in prayer should be reflected in how we live. Just as a tree naturally produces good fruit when given all it needs, our lives will also bear good fruit in our words and actions. We might still struggle. But when we fail, we can repent and continue again, with great hope and trust in the Lord who is willing to give us more time to “bear fruit in the future” (Lk 13:9).
Discussion Questions
Are there any ways you see yourself preoccupied with others? What might the message of the Lord be to you about that today?
How fruitful do you feel you have been this Lent? Is there anything you could change or try to bear more fruit?
Take a minute to reflect on the list of fruit from Galatians 5:22. Is there one fruit you would like to exhibit more in your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you focus on that this week.
