No Condemnation

Greetings on this the Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C Readings
Readings: Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8:1-11
Notes:

Cross reference: Exodus 31:18 and Deuteronomy 9:10,

When the LORD had finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant, the stone tablets inscribed by God’s own finger.

The LORD gave me the two stone tablets inscribed, by God’s own finger.

The Law of the Lord.

• Lev 20:10 both share face the consequence.
• Deut 22:22 both share face the consequence.
• Ez 33:11 I take no pleasure.

Answer them: As I live—oracle of the Lord GOD—I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! Why should you die, house of Israel?

First reading
See, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches,
for I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink,
the people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise.

Responsorial Psalm
The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

The return from Exile is an outward sign of the forgiveness of sin.

Second reading
For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish,
that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God.

Verse before the Gospel
Even now, says the Lord,
return to me with your whole heart;
for I am gracious and merciful.

Gospel Portion

For my homily today, I will be blindfolded and have a walking stick.

Tell the story of the ex-official of a repressive regime that came upon hard times having been shot through the temple, blinded and left to die by the same regime officials.

The Lord had other plans.

What did Jesus write?

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.

What did Jesus write?
See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry