Homily for April 6, 2025 – 5th Sunday of Lent. Fr Joe Tedesco OCSO

Isaiah 43: 16 – 21. Phil 3: 8 – 14. John 8: 1 – 11

With all the challenges we are experiencing, all the upheavals in the country and in the world,
What are we to do??

We must see the world and all these issues with God’s eyes and heart. Not fancy words, politically correct jargon. But the facts of who we are in God. Who we are in Jesus. Ask yourself how you see your life, how you perceive your stance in the world. How do you approach life? Why are we here this morning? It is faith, our faith life that is our life.

If there is a story that helps us get a better focus on our life, it’s this one in today’s gospel. What a horrible situation for the woman. What could she possibly do, curled up on the ground in a man’s world with no one attending to her need. But being used by the Pharisees to catch Jesus to set him up. Yet, here comes Jesus, willingly kneeling on the ground next to her, writing in the sand. Bringing a totally embarrassing and volatile situation to a better conclusion. Jesus is the compassionate one who handles this so powerfully. Focusing on the truth of each person, is the way forward. To the Jews he says: those without sin cast the first stone. To the women: has no one condemned you?
We see the work of God’s loving kindness and faithfulness – his mercy has not come to an end. We have had personal experience of God’s attention to us, God’s loving us. Loving each of us.

Look at how God is acting in us and with us now. We belong to Christ. We have salvation in him. Our lives are totally different if we consider all that Christ has done and is doing in us. Calling us to live the salvation we have. Calling us to share the good news of Christ as our Lord and Savior and all that he means to us. We are faithful Christians, praise God.

But yet in these days, once unimaginable things are happening in our world.

So, look at our priorities. We have the memories of past glory, and God’s action in our life.
Remember all the moments of grace. Those graces are not taken away, we forget them and don’t let those gifts enrich us now.

Truly with a future in doubt, we look to the present and the redemptive possibilities, redemptive moments that are giving us hope. Like living with courage to promote values that give life. Moments of love and kindness that opens our world to be a better place. Then together we can handle the future. So, we hold onto the grace already given, which calls us to move the grace forward by how we live it out.

I came across a short prayer by Walter Brueggemann, a famous scripture scholar for the United Church of Christ, it’s so poignant. Here it is.
In the midst of troubled times, be with us, God of well-being. May faithful remembering lead us to compassionate reimagining. Amen. Amen, indeed…..

For us, we want faith and trust in Jesus to make our life work. We have the understanding of what is primary for our life together. So, we do all the right things. We give witness to respect, responsibility, honesty, charity, fairness in all our relationships.

Is it a challenge, yes, and always? Life is hard at times. Together is the key. How can that work for your life? Of course, lent is the time we work on removing any impediments in us that can work against the power of Easter.
Christ is looking for our hearts to be open to receive his forgiveness, his mercy, his new life. To change the world. Christ’s love in us changes everything. Our faith in his new life changes everything. We always have a fresh start, because God is merciful, forgiving and full of loving kindness. God is with us, we just celebrated the Annunciation of Mary less then 2 weeks ago. A reminder that God is with us.

Jesus’ famous response in the gospel today is valid again and again. “The one without sin cast the first stone”. Jesus is telling us to always act in a loving way given the circumstances we find ourselves in. What a statement of truth that challenges everyone. What is your response today?