HOMILY FOR FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 3rd April, 2022

 HOMILY FOR FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 3rd April, 2022

Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Ps. 126; Phil. 3:8-14; John 8:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

WHEN SIN BRINGS US DOWN, GOD’S MERCY WILL NOT LET US BE CONDEMNED BY SINFUL PEOPLE

One of the things that separate us from God and one another is sin. Sin brings us down for glory to nothingness. Sin was and still the cause of humanity’s problems. Sin can bring down a whole generation, It can bring down a whole community, society, group, tribe and even a nation. And Oftentimes we fall and fall again into sin, and shame and as a result many have been swallowed and condemned by sin. Sin, no doubt has left an ugly legacy on human history. The more we advance the more sin advance with us. Sin has never and can never offer us any good, all it does is to bring us down, down to condemnation, but God out of his love for us will not let us be condemned to death,  just as we heard in our Gospel passage today. 

 

Here, we heard how the Pharisees led a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, condemning her to death by stoning in accordance to the Jewish customs and laws, and they attempted to use her as a test for Jesus, hoping that through his response they will trap him down and condemn him death as well. This is because they knew that if Jesus had condemned the woman, then the people could then say that Jesus was following the example of the Pharisee and therefore discredit his teaching authority. And if Jesus said that the woman should be set free, the Pharisees then could condemn Jesus for siding with a sinner. 

Here again the wisdom and mercy of God vindicated the woman when Jesus asked for those who had no sin to cast the first stone on the woman. This is perfectly wise set of words to say in that occasion as it is a reality that every one has sinned before, and the longer one has lived, the more sins naturally he or she could have committed. So they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more'. 

Dear friends such is the love and mercy of God for each one of us. This shows the fact that God loves us all, and his love for us is even greater than the hatred he has on our sins. And for all those who have faith in him and put their trust in him, God will provide for them and protect them, just as he did for this adulterous woman. So, God wants us all to repent and be cleansed from our sins, our wickedness, immorality, corruption and selfishness. He is repeating the same words he told the adulterous woman, that she had been forgiven and yet, she must not sin again. Telling us that sin is something that we must struggle daily to overcome, knowing that God is ever loving and merciful towards us, but we must not take his love and mercy for granted and continue to live in the state of sin. We must let go of our sinful ways of life.

Little wonder St. Paul in our second reading today said: I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can gain Christ and be given a place in him. And in our first reading we heard God through prophet Isaiah saying: I will remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? For I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers and the desert for my people. This tells us that God has not and will not abandoned us in this state of sin. Yes sin may bring us down, it’s time to get up. Though sin may have taken us away from God, it is time to come back, sins may have destroy our relationship with God and our neighbours, it is time to reconcile with God and with one another. Sin may have condemned us to death, God wants to raise us up again.

Therefore, as we approach the Holy week, Jesus uses this example to explain to us how God searches for us when we are lost in sin and his joy when our friendship with him is restored. His searching for us cost him his life. This can help us realize how precious we are to him. He never gives up on anyone, we should not give up on him. So, are we lost in sin? Have we given up in our struggle against sin? Do you think that your sins are so great that God cannot forgive you? Do you feel lost now? Are you busy condemning other people because of their sinful state of life? Are you like the Pharisees who are trying to test God’s wisdom and mercy. Jesus is waiting for us to come back to him. 

Brethren, when was the last time we sincerely fill very sorry for our habitual sins? When was your last sacramental confession? When are you going to say no to sin and let go that stone of pride and condemnation of others. Though sin may bring us down but God will not let us be condemned by sin and sinful people. I just want you to know that God loves you and his mercy will not let you be condemned by sin for you are too precious to be lost or condemned in this sinful world.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you never stopped saving those who come to you for mercy, especially when we have separated ourselves from you because of sin. As we embrace your words today. May we experience your mercy once again in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Sunday celebration.