Psalms 37:9 I have been afflicted and greatly humbled. I bellowed from the groaning of my heart.

When we realize the reality of sin and the separation it causes between us and God, we feel the emptiness. When we realize that God has loved us even to giving his life for our salvation, and yet we sin, we feel ashamed of our selfish stupidity. Imagine what Peter experienced after his denial of Jesus three times, which Jesus has predicted. Imagine when he experienced the merciful glance of Jesus afterwards how bitterly Peter sobbed from the depths of his being. He was humbled, ashamed, filled with remorse and guilt, but he didn’t despair like Judas. In his sorrow he sought forgiveness. Weep for your sins but know the mercy of God.

 Psalms 37:8 For my loins have been filled with illusions, and there is no health in my flesh.

Often the sins of the flesh are our downfall. How often, like the illusion of Eve, the temptation to become like God, we become less fulfilled than we hoped. The pain of one part of the body is felt by other parts of the body as well. Sin affects and infects the whole body the same way. The only solution is to turn away from sin through sincere repentance and turn back to God. God alone can heal through his mercy both body and soul. Now is the day of salvation. Return to the Lord and he will return to you.

 Psalms 37:6 My sores have putrefied and been corrupted before the face of my foolishness.

Sometimes we do not recognize the effects of sin in our lives. But the more we continue and remain in sin, the more the spiritual cancer of sin silently spreads in us. In foolishness we pretend all is well, even though we know better. Only the healing touch of the Divine, merciful Physician can restore us, once we repent. How often we delay because of our addiction to sin! Pray for the grace to repent and be healed. Lord, have mercy on me a sinner, for I have strayed from you. Bring me back, Shepherd of my life.

 Psalms 37:7 I have become miserable, and I have been bent down, even to the end. I have walked with contrition all day long.

Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel C

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 

· How often do we come to Jesus to listen and to be taught?

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. 

· Their hearts were not right. They were not interested in doing what is right but in discrediting Jesus. Do we sometimes act of wrong motives?  Do we sometimes seem more righteous than others?

If they were so righteous, why did they not bring the man who was                  guilty of the same sin?

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

· Even knowing their real motive, Jesus was extending a hand of mercy to them. Even when others are wrong and we know it, are we judgmental or merciful like Jesus? Do we condemn or give them a way out?

·       Jesus reminded them and us that we are all sinners and who are we to         judge the other? In another passage, Jesus says that we should take             the beam out of our own eye before we point to the splinter in the               other.

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. 

· What was Jesus doing? Some interpret Jesus’ action by saying that he was writing their sins in the dirt. Others say that he was giving them a chance to save face and not condemn themselves as they were condemning the woman.

·      Beginning with the elders, was this because they realized they had

·      more sins?

So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? 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.” 

· Jesus knew the scriptures. God desires not the death of the sinner but that the person repents and lives. If we choose to die in sin, that is our choice.

· Jesus doesn’t condemn us for our sins but offers us the grace of repentance. He called sin, sin, but he extended forgiveness and mercy to the sinner.

· Do we reflect on our sinfulness? Do we remain in sin? Do we repent and heed the word of Jesus: “Go, and from now on do not sin any more?”

· When was the last time you went to confession?

 Psalms 37:5 For my iniquities have walked over my head, and they have been like a heavy burden weighing upon me.

Sin is like a heavy burden upon us. For, living in sin, we are not living 

out of our true identity, as the adopted sons and daughters of God.

We are like the Prodigal Son far from home, surrounded by nothing

but darkness and shambles. That self-inflicted burden is only lifted

through heartfelt repentance before the Lord and through the infinite

mercy of God. How often I have experienced this in my own life. Once

I confessed my sins, the weight upon me was lifted and removed. The

Father awaits our coming back to him, so that his mercy may cover us

once more. He awaits to embrace us in his love.

Psalms 37:4 There is no health in my flesh before the face of your wrath. There is no peace for my bones before the face of my sins.

When we sin and become aware of our wrongdoing, the shame and guilt become like a spiritual illness within us. Our relationship with God is shattered. Like Adam and Eve, we feel naked and want to cover up our shame, even trying to hide from God. There is no peace within us. Instead, the sense of having displeased the One who has loved us becomes overwhelming. God allows us to feel this anguish to bring us to repentance and reconciliation. Lord, have mercy, for we have sinned and turned our face from you. Be merciful, as we turn back to you.