Fifth Sunday of Lent – Year C

First Reading

First Reading

Isaiah 43:16-21

The Lord is doing something new for his people.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 126:1-6

A song in praise of the Lord's marvelous deeds

Second Reading

Philippians 3:8-14

Paul says that he counts all things as lot and focuses on one goal, Christ.

Gospel Reading

John 8:1-11

Jesus does not condemn the woman caught in adultery.

Background on the Gospel Reading

The Gospel for the fifth Sunday of Lent continues to offer lessons about God's mercy and forgiveness. Last Sunday we heard the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke. Today we hear not a parable, but the report from John's Gospel of an encounter among Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees, and a woman caught in adultery.

In John's Gospel, the conflict between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees occurs much earlier than in the Synoptic Gospels. Jesus' cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem is reported at the beginning of John's Gospel. Even after this event, Jesus continues to teach in the Temple. After returning to Galilee for a time, Jesus again enters Jerusalem and cures a man on the Sabbath. From this point forward in John's Gospel, the Pharisees are described as making plans for Jesus' arrest and seeking his death.

In the chapter preceding today's Gospel, Jesus was teaching in the Temple area. Feeling threatened by his teaching and his actions, the chief priests and the Pharisees are already sending guards to arrest Jesus. The guards return, however, without arresting Jesus because they have been impressed by his words. Even more than this, some among the crowds are considering the possibility that Jesus is the Messiah. The chief priests and the Pharisees change their plan. Before making an arrest, they seek to gather more evidence against Jesus by posing a question intended to trap Jesus.

Today's Gospel begins by reporting that Jesus is again teaching the crowds in the vicinity of the Temple. The scribes and the Pharisees approach Jesus, bringing a woman who has been caught in the act of adultery. They put to Jesus the question of what ought to be done in this case.

The Pharisees state clearly that according to the Law of Moses, those caught in the act of adultery were to be stoned to death. Under Roman occupation, however, the Jewish people did not have the authority to execute people; this is cited in John's passion narrative. To answer the Pharisees' question, Jesus must propose an action that will be either contrary to the Law of Moses or contrary to Roman law. The purpose of the question appears to be similar to the question about paying taxes found in Mark 12:13-17. Either answer, yes or no, will support the Pharisees' case against Jesus.

Jesus avoids the trap, however, by offering an answer that was not anticipated by those who posed the question. Jesus, after writing on the ground with his finger, addresses those who stand before him and suggests that the one without sin cast the first stone. Jesus then returns to his writing. This Scripture reading, by the way, is the only evidence we have of Jesus writing. Yet there are no specific details about what he wrote.

We can easily imagine the scene as the Pharisees and the elders disperse, one by one. Jesus has eluded the trap they had prepared. We might also give credit to the elders and the Pharisees who do not, in the end, claim to be sinless and worthy of passing judgment. These Pharisees are not as self-righteous as the portrait found in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (See Luke 18:9-14).

Left alone with the woman, Jesus asks where the accusers have gone. With no one remaining to condemn the woman, Jesus (the one who truly is without sin) sends the woman on her way, refusing to pass judgment on her and exhorting her to avoid future sin.

Jesus' response to those who accuse the woman is more than a caution to us about making judgment of others. It is a profound lesson in divine mercy and forgiveness. As sinners, we are all unworthy to judge the sins of others and we would stand convicted by God for our transgressions. Yet Jesus, the one without sin and thus our judge, offers us who are sinners his mercy and forgiveness. Redeemed by Jesus' compassion, we are sent to sin no more and to live in God's love and peace.

-BDL

Ye Olde Garage 

Ye Olde Garage will be holding the Monthly Garage Sale on April 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We have lots of Easter items and even have our Patriotic items for Memorial Day, Flag Day and Fourth of July on our shelves.

We have one favor to ask: DO NOT leave donations outside the gate.  With the crazy rains and heavy mists we have been having we have had to throw these items in the trash which is so sad. Even plastic bags do not keep rain out. Soaked clothing cannot be offered to customers. All donations may be brought to the Garage on Monday, Wednesday or Friday when the Ye Olde Garage is open. We appreciate your help with this.

You can find the Ye Olde Garage at the North East corner of the parking lot. Just follow the Garage Sale Signs. You will find us at the gate where the American Flag is flying and the Green Garage Sale sign is on the North Wall. See you there.

Please Support Shoes to the World

We are seeking donations to fund our global outreach initiatives, which include vital distributions led by Fr. Azam's family in Pakistan. Tax-deductible donations may be made at our new website www.ShoestotheWorld.org or be dropped off at the church office and made payable to Shoes to the World.

From now until Divine Mercy Sunday, all donations will be gift-matched! Gift matching applies to contributions between $50 and $1,000, up to a total of $4,000. Every dollar of your donation will go directly toward purchasing brand-new shoes, which will be distributed by volunteers to impoverished children and adults. Many of those we serve are currently wearing worn-out, bacteria-filled, hand-me-down shoes.

In 2024, STTW distributed over 5,000 pairs of new shoes. New shoes were provided to our local homeless population in partnership with Showers of Blessings, a North County school, and impoverished children in Honduras, Colombia, Pakistan, Togo, and Guatemala. We’ve now launched a distribution program in Kenya. At STTW, we are committed to ensuring every dollar is spent wisely to help those in the greatest need. Learn more about our impact at www.shoestotheworld.org.

Shoes to the World is a registered IRS 501(c)(3) organization, and we deeply appreciate your continued support. Thank you for helping us change lives, one pair of shoes at a time.

Un Saludo de

parte del Diacono Miguel,

Jesús les dijo, “Aquel de ustedes que no tengan pecado, que le tire la primera piedra”. Entramos a la quinta semana de Cuaresma, caminando hacia la Pascua. Y todavía el Espíritu Santo intenta de sacudir nuestro corazón y mente a un lugar donde podemos mirar la gran misericordia de Jesús. Todos hemos tenido que establecer reglas de lo que es bueno y malo para sobrevivir. Y esas reglas son buenas hasta cierto punto porque de una manera nos mantienen en “el carril” para no perdernos y poder así caminar con Jesús. Pero esas reglas pueden esclavizarnos, toman prioridad en nuestra vida, y no nos dejan ver “más allá” de lo que Dios nos quiere enseñarnos. En el Evangelio de este fin de semana, le traen a Jesús una mujer sorprendida en adulterio. En la mente de los escribas y fariseos el destino para la mujer es fácil, porque “la ley de Moisés” mandaba que fuera apedreada. Y van con Jesús para ponerlo a prueba y poder acusarlo. Jesús les responde, “Aquel de ustedes que no tienen pecado, que tire la primera piedra”. Y nos dice el texto que uno por uno se va. Al final queda Jesús y la mujer, Jesús le pregunta a la mujer, “Mujer, ¿Dónde están los que acusaban? ¿Nadie te ha condenado? Tampoco yo te condeno, vete y no vuelvas a pecar”. Estas palabras de Jesús son bien importantes para nosotros y no permitamos de no escucharlas por nuestro egoísmo. Nos preocupamos tanto del pecado de los otros, pero, tú y yo tenemos bastante pecado en nuestra propia vida. Sin temor, y con toda confianza en la misericordia de Dios respondamos a las palabras de Jesús, “Nadie te ha condenado…. tampoco yo te condeno”. ¿Qué piensan?

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866