Mercy Unlocks Hope (Divine Mercy)

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! What a gift it is to be gathered today, especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope. We are celebrating a feast that flows straight from the heart of Jesus—a feast that tells us there’s no sin too big, no failure too deep, no heart too far gone for the mercy of God.

In the Gospel today, the disciples are in the upper room—hiding, afraid, unsure of what the future holds. That room might feel familiar to some of us. We all have our “upper room” moments: times of fear, doubt, or failure. But what happens in that room is incredible—Jesus walks in. Doors locked, hearts anxious—and still, He comes. He says, “Peace be with you.”

Let’s reflect together on how mercy unlocks hope—for the disciples, and for us today.

Mercy Enters Our Fear.
The disciples are behind locked doors. Fear has paralyzed them. Guilt has silenced them. But Jesus doesn’t knock—He walks straight in. That’s mercy. It doesn’t wait until we have it all figured out. Mercy moves first. It enters our fear, sits with us in our mess, and speaks peace into our storm.

How often do we try to keep the door closed—thinking we need to be better, more prayerful and more committed before God can meet us?

But Jesus comes anyway. He meets us right there—in the fear, in the doubt, in the shame—and He says, “Peace be with you.”

St. Faustina heard Jesus say: “Let the sinner not be afraid to approach Me. The flames of mercy are burning Me—clamoring to be spent.” (Diary 50) That’s our Savior. Burning with mercy, eager to draw near—not because we deserve it, but because He can’t help Himself. That’s love.

Mercy Sends Us on Mission. The next thing Jesus does is powerful. After offering peace, He breathes on them the Holy Spirit and says: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He doesn’t just heal their hearts—He gives them a mission.

Mercy doesn’t stop at comforting us. It commissions us. We are not just forgiven; we are sent.
This is where the Jubilee Year of Hope comes alive. The world is aching for mercy—for kindness, for compassion, for people who carry peace into broken places. That’s us. We’re the ones sent. As St. Faustina wrote: “Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy.” (Diary 301).

We’re called to be living signs of that mercy. In our families, at work, with friends, even online—every encounter is an opportunity to offer what we’ve received.

Mercy Meets Our Wounded Faith. Now we come to Thomas. Poor Thomas gets labeled “the doubter,” but let’s be honest—he’s real. He’s been hurt, disappointed, maybe even angry. He says, “Unless I see the wounds… I won’t believe.” And what does Jesus do? He doesn’t lecture him. He doesn’t shame him. He invites him: “Put your finger here… touch my wounds.”

That’s mercy too. Mercy meets us even when our faith is shaky. When we’re confused, hurt, or distant. Jesus doesn’t avoid our wounds—He reveals His own. And His wounds are not erased. They’re still visible—but they are now sources of healing.

St. Faustina said it best:
“My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls... If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers to them.” (Diary 367). So if you’ve been carrying doubts or questions—you're not alone. Thomas was a disciple too. And he ended up declaring the greatest act of faith in the Gospel: “My Lord and my God.” That’s what mercy can do.

As we look at the image of Divine Mercy today, those five simple words speak louder than anything: Jesus, I trust in You. That’s what today is all about. Mercy received. Hope restored. Trust renewed. And in this Jubilee Year of Hope, we remember what St. Faustina shared from the Lord:
“Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy” (Diary 300).
So today, whatever is behind the locked door of your heart—fear, guilt, doubt—let Jesus walk in. Let mercy meet you there. And then, be ready. Because He will send you out to carry that same mercy to others.
Because mercy… always unlocks hope.

Lolo Kiko: A Shepherd Close to our Hearts

We gather with heavy hearts yet grateful spirits as we remember the life and ministry of Pope Francis—a man who was not only the leader of the universal Church but who, to many Filipinos, became much more personal. We fondly called him “Lolo Kiko,” our beloved grandfather. In this time of worldwide mourning, I invite us to pause and reflect on the unique way he touched our lives, a legacy woven with mercy, humility, and a pastoral closeness that felt deeply like family.

For many, Pope Francis is remembered for his gentleness and simplicity. But for us here in the Philippines, he became something like family. I recall vividly his visit to Tacloban after Typhoon Yolanda—those days of overwhelming loss and heartbreak. He walked among the ruins, touched the suffering, and sat with our people in grief. It was there that a beautiful, tender bond was formed. We did not just see him as the pope; we saw him as a grandfather who carried our pain and offered hope. From that moment, many of us began calling him “Lolo Kiko,” a name full of warmth and trust—our gentle grandfather who never left us in our darkest hours.

Lolo Kiko’s love for us went beyond any official role. He embraced Filipino families and our youth with open arms and words full of encouragement. His call to the young to “be protagonists of your own history” (Address to youth, Manila, 2015) spoke to our hopes and dreams. And he knew well the heart of Filipino culture, where family is everything. His humble presence and warm smile made us feel he walked with us, urging each one—old and young—to place their trust confidently in God’s faithful love.

More than that, Pope Francis reminded us about the true mission of the Church. He often described it as a “field hospital after battle” (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013), a place not of judgment but of healing and comfort to the wounded. This powerful image echoes deeply in our context here in the Philippines, where so many face poverty and hardship daily. He urged us not to stay within the comfortable walls of the Church but to go out to the peripheries — the poor, the marginalized, the forgotten. “The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love... to the poorest, the weakest, the least important” (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013). Just like our Filipino spirit of bayanihan, the Church is called to journey with others, to heal, and to uplift.

At the very center of Lolo Kiko’s teaching was mercy — God’s infinite mercy that never tires of reaching out. He spoke beautifully, “Mercy is the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sins” (Misericordiae Vultus, 2015). That message touched a chord among us Filipinos, for mercy and forgiveness are at the heart of our healing as families and communities. Through his witness, many found strength to reconcile and to hope again.

He also inspired us to care more deeply for our common home. His encyclical Laudato Si’ (2015) was a heartfelt invitation to protect the environment—a call profoundly meaningful to our archipelago, so often battered by storms and calamities. “We need to strengthen the conviction that we are one single human family” (Laudato Si’, 2015). If we truly see ourselves as one family, protecting our earth becomes an act of faith and love.

In today's societies too often fractured by distrust and division, Pope Francis was tireless in calling for peace and dialogue. His words, “Dialogue is the path to peace” (Address to leaders of various religions, 2014), remind us especially here in Mindanao and throughout our country that peace begins by listening and building bridges. Let us be inspired to be instruments of that peace in our families, communities, and nation.

Finally, we recall Lolo Kiko’s humility and his revolutionary call for synodality — the Church as a journeying community, walking and listening together. He reminded us that Synodality means walking together, listening to each other, and discerning the Holy Spirit’s guidance." This harmonizes perfectly with our Filipino value of pakikipagkapwa-tao, recognizing our shared dignity and responsibility. This kind of Church is alive, vibrant, and ready to embrace the future with hope.

My dear brothers and sisters, as we remember our beloved Lolo Kiko, let us honor him not only with our tears but with the way we live. May we continue his legacy of mercy, humble service, and joyful witness. May the Filipino Church become a field hospital for those in need, a family that embraces its youth with hope, and a community that walks together  in faith, hope, and love.

Let us pray for the eternal rest of Pope Francis and for the grace to imitate his humble, loving example. May his life always remind us that the Church is built not on power, but on the tender heart as that of a grandfather who loves. Amen.

 

Easter People, Pilgrims of Hope (Easter Vigil C)

On the eve of Christmas in 2022, a 34-year-old mother and her 3-year-old child were swept away by a mighty flood in Misamis Occidental. Their house was carried by the raging waters into the vast sea. For three long days, they drifted helplessly, clinging to broken pieces of wood as their fragile raft repeatedly gave way.

I watched her interview on TV, and I was deeply moved by the courage she showed—a fierce determination not only to survive but to protect her young child. Despite the overwhelming darkness and uncertainty surrounding them, she never lost hope. With faith in God’s providence, she scavenged for anything they could eat—fruits, fish—and when her child was thirsty, she reached out and found a coconut to quench that thirst.

Her story is a powerful testament to hope’s strength—the hope that carries us through the darkest, most desperate moments. Like this mother, we too can cling to the lifeline that Christ offers, journeying from the stormy seas of despair into the light of safety, new life, and joy.

That mother’s undying hope—holding on through the darkest night—mirrors the journey we celebrate this Easter Vigil. Tonight, we gather in darkness, yet we are not afraid, for the light of the Paschal Candle pierces the shadows. Christ, our hope, has risen! We celebrate the triumph of life over death, light over darkness, and hope over despair. In this Jubilee Year, the Church calls us to be "Pilgrims of Hope," journeying with faith toward the fullness of God’s promises.

Hope, Our Journey from Darkness to Light. The Gospel (Luke 24:1-12) shows us this journey beautifully. The women visit Jesus’ tomb at dawn, weighed down by grief and loss. But they find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. The angels ask, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Lk 24:5). 

This is the heart of Christian hope: a pilgrimage from the darkness of despair to the radiant light of the resurrection. The Easter Vigil liturgy reflects this movement—from the blessing of fire, the lighting of the Paschal Candle, to the joyful proclamation of Christ’s victory. Like the women, we are called to step out of darkness—whether it is fear, doubt, grief, or sin—and into the new light of Christ’s risen life.

Where in my life am I still walking through darkness—fear, doubt, sorrow?  How can I open my heart, like the women, to let the light of Christ transform that darkness into joy?

Hope, Our Journey from Slavery to Freedom. The Easter Vigil readings powerfully recall Israel’s liberation from slavery in Egypt—a journey from oppression to freedom (Exodus 14:15-15:1). The miraculous crossing of the Red Sea reveals God’s saving power, leading His people from bondage into the Promised Land. This event is the “mother of all our hopes” in salvation history, a vivid image of freedom conquered by God’s intervention.

In Christ, the resurrection is the ultimate breaking of chains—the defeat of sin and death itself. Just as the Israelites were freed from physical slavery, we are set free from the spiritual slavery of sin through Christ’s Paschal Mystery. The empty tomb proclaims that no power can hold us captive; the resurrection confirms that the chains of sin are broken.

In Our Lives, the “slavery of sin” can trap us in despair, guilt, and brokenness, but Christ’s resurrection offers a new path to freedom. What forms of slavery—fear, addiction, resentment—hold me captive today? How can I embrace the freedom Christ won for me through his resurrection? In what ways can I live as a freed person, sharing hope with those still in bondage?

Hope, a Journey from Death to Life. The Epistle from Romans (6:3-11) reveals the deeper meaning of Easter hope: Baptism. Paul tells us, "We were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4).  

Tonight, as we celebrate the baptism of new members into the Church, we remember that baptism is our own personal journey from death to life. It is not merely a ritual, but the powerful moment when sin dies and grace is born in us. The empty tomb is not just an event in history; it is the promise of new and eternal life for each of us.

How does my baptism shape the way I live and respond to life’s challenges?  How can I more faithfully live as a witness to the resurrection hope I have received?

The Easter Vigil calls us to be Pilgrims of Hope. Like the women at the tomb and Peter running to see, we are invited to journey toward the light, freedom, and new life of the resurrection. In this Jubilee Year, may we carry this hope into the world, sharing the light for those still walking in darkness.  

As we renew our baptismal promises tonight, let us pray: Lord, make us bearers of Your hope in every step of our pilgrimage. May we run joyfully to share the Good News: Christ is risen! Alleluia!  

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS for quiet reflection and personal prayer

For those who prefer to stay home on Good Friday, you can deepen your experience of Holy Week and prepare for a joyful Easter celebration by spending quiet moments reflecting on the last words of Jesus discerning their message for you.

PREPARATION: Find a place where you can be alone, quiet, and comfortable. It would be helpful to have a crucifix that you can contemplate on. Bring your journal should you wish to write down the fruits of your reflection. Take time to reflect and pray over each of the seven last words of our dear Lord. You may linger and stay where you feel the Lord is speaking to you deeply. Feel free to respond to the Lord expressing whatever is in your heart.

1. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Jesus is falsely accused, convicted unfairly and tortured brutally but still He sees and understands his persecutors’ ignorance and intercedes to the Father for their forgiveness.  In his suffering, Jesus offers forgiveness… not vengeance… nor hatred.

Have you been unjustly treated? Can you get past this injustice you might have endured? With God’s grace, would you be happier if you could set your heart free by offering forgiveness as Jesus did? Are there people in your life to whom you need to offer forgiveness? Or from whom you need to seek forgiveness?  

2. “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43). These are words of salvation Jesus speaks to one of the thieves being crucified. He is said to be the “Good Thief” because, after acknowledging his guilt, he turns to Jesus and humbly implores that he be remembered when Jesus comes into his kingdom. And Jesus, indeed, guarantees his and OUR salvation.

When you gaze at the cross of Jesus, are you ready to admit the guilt of your own sinfulness? Do you feel Jesus’s invitation to entrust to Him your brokenness? What sinful situation in your life right now you might want to ask Jesus to save you from?  What would you like to say to Jesus? Express your gratitude to the Lord for assuring you a place in His Kingdom.

3. “Woman, behold, your son. … Behold, your mother.” (John 19:26–27). As Jesus approaches his death, He thinks of Mary, his beloved Mother, and how she would be taken care of without Him. Here, Jesus entrusts Mary to “the disciple whom he loved.”

Who is Mary to you? What role does Mary play in your life? Do you express loving concern for your own mother? Or aging parents? Do you have close friends who are like a member of your family just like the beloved disciple? Would you like to write how you feel about them and how you appreciate their presence in your life?

4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  (Mark 15:34). Jesus cries out in anguish from the cross. He feels alone approaching his death. He is abandoned by most of his friends. The beloved Father too seems to be distant and tolerant of all the evil done to him.

Do you think God had abandoned his beloved Son? Have there been difficult moments in your life when you asked, “Where is God?” Have you ever felt abandoned by family, friends or even God? Do you trust God’s love despite His seeming silence in some difficult times in your life?

5. “I thirst.” (John 19:28). Jesus, after having been whipped, crowned with thorns and nailed to the cross expresses a human need. He thirsts. He, the source of living water, thirsts! To quench his thirst, Jesus is offered a sponge soaked in sour wine.

Don’t you ever feel that Jesus thirst is not for water but for your love? Your loyalty? For justice? For peace? For the healing of creation? In life, what are you thirsting for? Do you thirst spiritually for Jesus, the Living Water? Have there been moments when you cried out in distress? Were there people who gave you a helping hand?

6. “It is finished.” (John 19:30). These three words of Jesus express the fulfilment of God’s promises to his people. Jesus has accomplished his mission as the promised Savior of humankind. He now declares victory over sin and death.

Jesus had been resolute in doing the Father’s will. His life and death had a special purpose in God’s plan of salvation.  What is your life’s purpose? Would you write your own vision (who you are called to become) and mission (what are you called to do)?  Where are you in fulfilling God’s purpose in your life? Are there moments of victories?

7. “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46). These words summarize how Jesus lived—in humble surrender to the Father’s will. Here, again, He entrusts everything, His spirit to the Father, as He dies broken, humiliated, and abandoned. In this most despicable state, Jesus expresses His total trust in his unity with the Father.

Do you trust God so as to let go of your controls in life? Have there been some dark moments in your life, beyond your understanding, when you felt there’s nothing to hold on to but your faith in God? Have you ever doubted the abiding presence of the Father?

REVIEW:  Review the fruits of each meditation and discern how they all fit together as God’s invitation for you in life. Notice how Jesus’ suffering and death strengthen your faith, hope, and love amid your own struggles in some dark hours in life nudging you to move on with the joyful disposition of Easter.

CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD:  End with a heart to heart talk with the Lord. Express your gratitude, your love, your commitment to Him who laid down his life for you. GOD BLESS YOU!

The Pilgrims' New Passover of Hope (Last Supper)

We gather on this Holy Thursday to begin the Paschal Triduum, we enter together into the holiest moment of our liturgical year—the sacred journey from suffering to Resurrection. This year, during the Jubilee Year themed Pilgrims of Hope, we are reminded that our faith journey is one of hope moving forward, hope born of Christ’s self-giving love and sacrifice. Just as the Israelites were pilgrims led by God’s mighty hand out of slavery into freedom during the first Passover, so too are we pilgrims on a path of hope, navigating life’s trials while trusting in the new life Christ won for us through His Body and Blood. Tonight we reflect on this journey, how Jesus invites us to share in His sacrifice, follow His humble servant leadership, and live out His commandment of love and forgiveness.

The New Passover and the Sacrament of the Eucharist

• Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum, starting with the remembrance of the Last Supper Jesus shared with His disciples before His Passion.

• The first reading recalls the original Passover in Egypt, where God delivered the Israelites from slavery through Moses, the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb, and the blood marked on doorposts to save the Israelites from the Tenth Plague (Exodus 12).

• Jesus redefines the Passover at the Last Supper: instead of the lamb’s blood, His own Body and Blood become the new Passover sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

• The Last Supper was earlier than the traditional Passover meal, as the actual sacrifice of the true Passover Lamb—Jesus—occurred on Good Friday (John 19:31-37).

• Through the Eucharist, Christ’s sacrifice is made present to the Church, establishing a New Covenant that frees us from sin and death.

        In what ways can I more deeply participate in the Eucharist as a personal encounter with the Paschal Lamb?

The Ministerial Priesthood and Servant Leadership

• Jesus instituted the Ministerial Priesthood at the Last Supper, entrusting priests to continue His sacred sacrifice through the Mass.

• In the Gospel of John (John 13:1-17), Jesus humbly washes His disciples’ feet, an act of servant leadership symbolizing His self-giving love.

• This gesture is a model for all Christians, but especially priests and bishops who serve God’s people as humble servants.

• True Christian leadership is expressed not through power or domination but through loving service to the poorest, weakest, and marginalized.

        How can I embody servant leadership in my community, family, or workplace? What does humble service look like in daily life, especially toward those in need?

The Commandment of Love and Forgiveness

• Jesus commands His disciples, “You also must wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14), a call to imitate His love and humility.

• This “Mandatum” extends to loving those who are marginalized, enemies, and those who have persecuted us.

• Jesus’s forgiving love, shown even on the Cross, invites us to follow His example of mercy and compassion.

• As we journey through the Paschal Triduum, we reflect on Christ’s immense love and allow it to inspire us to love boldly and forgive freely.

        Who in my life needs forgiveness or a demonstration of Christ-like love? How can I grow in forgiving others and serving with compassion as Jesus did?

As Pilgrims of Hope journeying through this Jubilee Year, the Paschal Triduum calls us to deepen our faith and commitment. Through the Eucharist, we receive the strength to persevere; through humble service, we learn to love as Christ loves; through forgiveness, we witness the power of God’s mercy in our lives. Let this holy time renew us so that, moved by hope, we may walk together as a community united in Christ’s love—ready to face the challenges ahead with courage and trust. May the celebration of this sacred Triduum fill our hearts with joy, peace, and an unwavering hope in the resurrection promise.

In God’s Loving Hands (Passion Sunday C)

There is a seeming contradiction within the liturgical celebration today. On the one hand, we start by re-enacting with joyous chants and with palms on our hands Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem. The reading before the procession (Lk 19:28-40) reminds us of the joyful welcome accorded to Jesus by his disciples as he entered Jerusalem. Surely they welcomed him as a king. They chanted thus: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest” (v.38). Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem highlights his kingship. The mood is that of rejoicing and victory.

On the other hand, we later proceed in a sorrowful recounting of the crucifixion as a criminal of the same Jesus we hail as a king. “Crucify him! Crucify him!” This echoes disturbingly as the passion narrative goes on. And we listen to the account of Jesus giving up his last breath. The mood is, needless to say, sorrowful.

This seeming contradiction, I submit, is an excellent backdrop against which we can appreciate both Jesus’ resolve in turning down the people’s false expectations of him as a messiah and his unwavering trust in and submission only to the will of his Father.

We recall that the Lenten season begun with the readings on the temptations of Jesus in the desert (First Sunday of Lent). It is helpful to notice that truly the tempter haunted Jesus until his last moments. Towards the end of the passion narrative just before Jesus gave up his last breath, he would face his final temptation. Notice how similar is the test with that of the desert event: “Let him save himself, if he is the Messiah of God, the chosen one.” And “If you are the king of Jews, save yourself.” Finally, “aren’t you the Messiah? Then save yourself and us.”

The people, the soldier, and the criminal hanging on the cross challenge him to display his power. The challenge to save himself means to prove to the world that He is the one they have expected to come. The people’s joy on his entry to Jerusalem is laden with such expectations of a powerful messiah who will put an end to their oppression. If Jesus sees himself according to this expectation, then dying on the cross is out of the question; for dying means suffering the utter humiliation of defeat and meaninglessness. Indeed this is Jesus’ greatest temptation: To listen to the people’s challenge to save and prove himself; but in doing so, he will have to turn his back to the Father. His final temptation is to escape his death as it seems to lead to meaninglessness and to put things into his own hands.

But again Jesus’ total submission to the will of the Father prevails. Just before he expires, Jesus prays to the Father with so much trust in his love and fidelity: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

Here Jesus has shown us that, even in the face of seeming meaninglessness and utter defeat, he has faith in the wisdom of the Father. In the depth of his passion and the unfathomable mystery of his own death, he believes in the love of his Father. He trusts that in the loving hands of his Father everything will turn out fine.

We know, of course from the vantage point of Easter, that Jesus is vindicated. But to go through the experience of suffering and uncertainty of Lent is essential for the development of our capacity to trust in God’s love and fidelity. We are always tempted to put matters into our own hands. We desire so much to end the suffering around us as to be tempted to do it in our own terms and solutions. Oftentimes we tend to put our trust in our own plans and schemes oblivious of what God truly wills. 

As we walk our own journeys of faith, especially in times of suffering and uncertainty, we are called to emulate Jesus' unwavering trust and obedience to the Father. When our plans seem thwarted, our expectations unmet, or our hearts heavy with anguish, we must remember that, like Jesus, we are invited to reaffirm our trust in God's love and fidelity. In this Jubilee Year, let us embrace our role as “Pilgrims of Hope,” supporting one another through our struggles.

Let us unite our sufferings with Christ’s own passion, then we can also share in his resurrection. Armed with unwavering faith, we can face life’s challenges, confident that God's grace will guide us through the darkest valleys and towards the light of Easter joy. May we always hold in our hearts the same trust that Jesus exhibited, knowing that in God’s loving hands, we will find our true path, leading us to the fullness of life.

Father, I am superficial. I don’t see beyond what meets the eye. I don’t always understand your ways. Grant me then the grace to trust in you always and submit things into your loving hands. Amen.

Lest We Cast a Stone (5th Sunday Lent C)

 

In his exhortation during the Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis emphasized that all the faithful must contemplate the face of God's mercy and take the season of Lent as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy.

Jesus is the face of God's mercy. To contemplate on God's mercy, we need, then, to fix our eyes on Jesus. Let us do just that as we treat the gospel reading for today.

Today’s gospel reading (Jn 8:1-11) recounts the case of a woman caught in adultery. Her case is presented by the Scribes and Pharisees to test Jesus. If Jesus condemns her according to the Law of Moses, i.e. by stoning to death, he frustrates those who hope in his compassion and runs in conflict with the Roman law that has suspended the Jewish authorization to inflict capital punishment. If he pardons her, he can be accused of making light of the Law and lose his credibility before the people. But Jesus always outwits his malicious opponents. He manages to rise above the ploy to trap him and, what more, turns the occasion into one that instructs and teaches about the loving ways of God.

I suggest two things to consider for our reflection: First, Jesus’ invitation to self-examination and, second, his teaching on abhorring sin but loving the sinner.

Invitation to Self-examination. When the Scribes and Pharisees press him to give his position on the case, Jesus responds by saying, “let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (v. 7). Far from condemning the woman to death, Jesus instead invites the self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees to examine themselves first. The gospel recounts how each one goes away starting with the elders unable to cast the first stone. 

When we examine ourselves, we begin to realize how much the power of sin has affected us too. We begin to see that we are in an unfortunate solidarity with the sinners. We stop pointing an accusing finger on other people and admit that we also share in the sins of humanity. We begin to see the utter hypocrisy of casting the stone on others and to realize that like anyone else what we need is not legalistic impersonal judgment but mercy and compassion.

In this season of Lent, let us honestly and courageously look into our own sinfulness and approach God not in the self-righteous stance of the Scribes and Pharisees but in the utter dependence of the adulterous woman on the mercy of God.

Abhorring Sin but Loving the Sinner. Just like the message of the Parable of the Lost Son, today’s gospel teaches us about God’s unconditional love for us sinners. As far as God is concerned, we continue to be his sons and daughters despite our sinfulness. Today’s gospel illustrates how slow God is in condemning us and quick in giving us a fresh start. His words, “Neither do I condemn you” (v. 11), express Jesus’ willingness to give the sinful woman a chance, a new lease on life. God does not give up on us easily. His love and mercy always triumph over the power of sin that wants to destroy us. God’s love and mercy recreates us to become once again his beautiful children.

“Go; from now on do not sin anymore” (v. 11). Jesus is also clear about abhorring sin. Part of the gift of new life is the commitment of rejecting sin. Our encounter with Jesus brings new life and our experience of his compassion empowers us all the more to abhor the scandal of sin. We are God’s children; we are destined to live in grace. Sin is a despicable deception whose sole objective is to mislead and destroy.

Hence, the season of Lent is a good time to express our indignation to sin... to our sins... and to live in the grace of God’s mercy. 

This reflection does not in any way wish to abolish our legal and justice systems. They are necessary for social order. We have to be aware though that they can be flawed. The message of today’s gospel is that we move away from vindictive system that casts the stones out of lust for vengeance and conceit of self-righteousness. We move towards restorative system that allows for renewal and the chance to mend what has been broken by sin. Let us not allow sin to have the last laugh. It is God’s love that recreates, God’s mercy that restores.

Lord, break the shield of my self-righteousness lest I cast a stone on others; allow your mercy to expose the despicable deception of my sins that I may abhor them and hope for your promise of new life. Amen.