(Stock Photo Unsplash – Jametlene Reskp)
By Lorraine Zerr
As I reflected on the readings today, I couldn’t help but feel God’s calling to put the trauma of my past behind me, creating in me a new person – a new purpose, a wondrous purpose that would “spring forth” new life – A life formed for God’s divine plan, recalling the great things He had done for me, in spite of my past.
The heaviness of the burden of fear, bitterness and resentment began to lift as I pondered the meaning of Psalm 26:4-6, I suddenly recognized the hope in the words, “Restore our fortunes, oh Lord…those that sow in tears, shall reap rejoicing…carrying the seed to be sown”, because of the “supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” as Paul speaks to the Philippians in the second reading. Paul also recognizes that he himself has not yet achieved his goal of perfect maturity in faith yet urges us to forget the past, striving to move toward the pursuit of a deeper faith – a Higher calling. In the pursuit of a higher faith, at times we come to a “desert place” of longing and searching for a deeper meaning of life.
Though somewhat painful, we examine our consciences, prepare our hearts for reconciliation, reflect on our old, ineffective, sinful habits, and in return receive the gift of an authentic faith, opening our eyes to new ways of thinking and believing. We recognize that we are new creations in Christ and that Christ himself lives within us. We begin to see things from God’s perspective if we ask for the willingness. There are times when we are so ingrained with old behaviours, reactions and prejudices that we resist the need for change, afraid of the pain it entails. It’s only when we let go and allow God’s grace to fill us with His Peace that we come to a place of healing and restoration.
In John’s gospel today, we see Jesus’ compassion for the woman caught in adultery, challenging those who brutally judge her. She falls at the feet of Jesus where He looks into her eyes intently, not to condemn her but to give her hope. He offers forgiveness and a new way of life, saying, “Go, and from now on sin no more”. Can we see ourselves in her shoes? Or in the shoes of those who would condemn and judge? Do we throw stones at those whose views and lifestyles are so different from ours that we refuse to examine our own crooked thinking and behaviour? Or are we like the woman who is caught in sin and aware of her unworthiness? We risk falling at the feet of Jesus and begging for His mercy. Who are the ones without sin? Who are the hypocrites? Whose life will be changed forever from an encounter with Jesus? Who will receive new life?
The scrutiny in today’s readings – celebrated in those parishes with adults preparing for baptism this Easter – is a parallel to this. In the first reading, Ezekiel prophesies to his people, “Oh my people I will open up your graves…I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live”. In Psalm 130, David cries out from the depth of his heart, “Lord hear my voice…who could stand before you, yet there is forgiveness with you so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and in his word I find hope” . In Paul’s reading to the Romans, he speaks of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, giving us a new life in Christ. Finally, in John’s gospel, Jesus demonstrates God’s forbearance in Martha’s grief and anger toward him for not coming soon enough to save Lazarus. Jesus grieves with her and restores Lazarus to life, commanding him to come out from the grave, unbinding him from the chains of death to a new life, and restoring Martha’s faith as a testimony of God’s love and mercy to everyone who witnesses this miracle.
We have to ask ourselves, what is it that still binds us from knowing who Christ REALLY is and what’s stopping us from receiving his forgiveness? Is it because we feel unworthy of his Love, or is it our own pride that tells us we can find our own way without God? Jesus longs for us to come to Him for all our needs, in whatever form that takes. We are tired of waiting and lose hope when our prayers are not answered in our time. Do we believe we are never alone and that God answers our prayers in His perfect timing? The world is in a veil of darkness as we await the hope in the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, for peace for the world, and new beginnings!
In this Jubilee year, we celebrate a special period of forgiveness and reconciliation and focus on a pilgrimage of spiritual growth and renewal. Will we dare to scrutinize our own misdeeds while pointing fingers at others, avoiding the call to change, preferring instead, to stay in our own “safety nets”, or will we accept God’s unconditional Love, compassion and mercy, forever changed from our encounter with Christ? We need only ask and we will receive the Bread of Christ through His word!
