Has no one condemned you?

Fifth Sunday of Lent (C)

First Reading Is 43, 16-21

Responsorial Psalm Ps 126, 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

Second Reading Phil 3, 8-14

Gospel Jn 8, 1-11

Dear brothers and sisters, we find ourselves on the 5th Sunday of our Lenten journey, drawing closer to the passion, death, and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s readings lead us to reflect on God’s infinite mercy and His power to renew our lives. They remind us that our past does not define us, and that through God’s grace, we are always given the opportunity to begin again.

In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, God reminds His people of His ability to create new paths, even in the midst of difficulties. The psalm echoes this theme with a song of joy and restoration, proclaiming that those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul expresses his desire to leave behind the past and press forward toward the goal of Christ. Finally, in the Gospel, we witness the powerful encounter between Jesus and the woman caught in adultery. Instead of condemnation, Jesus offers mercy and a new beginning.

These readings invite us to reflect on God’s boundless mercy and His call to transformation. No matter what mistakes we have made, God does not want us to remain trapped in guilt or regret. He is always offering us a new beginning.

Today’s Gospel gives us a very powerful message. It tells us the story of a woman caught in sin. She is brought before Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. They are ready to punish her, to stone her, and they ask Jesus what He thinks should be done.

But instead of answering quickly, Jesus bends down and writes on the ground. Then He looks at them and says something that makes everyone stop and think:

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

What happened next? One by one, they all walked away. Why? Because each of them knew in their hearts that they had also sinned. No one was perfect. No one was truly innocent. And so, no one had the right to judge or condemn her.

This moment is so important for us today. We often fall into the habit of judging others. Maybe we see someone doing something wrong, or living in a way we don’t agree with. And without thinking, we criticize, we talk behind their backs, or we act like we are better than them.

But Jesus is teaching us something different. He’s asking us to look at ourselves first. Before we judge anyone else, we need to remember that we, too, are sinners. We also need God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Jesus didn’t say the woman was innocent. He didn’t say that sin doesn’t matter. What He did say, by His actions, is that mercy comes before judgment. And then, when everyone had gone, He said to her: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Jesus offers her a new beginning. He doesn’t leave her in her sin, but He also doesn’t shame her. He shows love, mercy, and hope.

So, what can we learn today?

• Let us stop judging others so quickly. We never know the full story of someone’s life.

• Let us look honestly at our own hearts. What sins do we carry? Where do we need God’s forgiveness?

• Let us be people of mercy. Just like Jesus, we are called to help others grow, not by condemning them, but by loving them and encouraging them to change.

It’s not always easy to forget our past or to move on from the mistakes we’ve made. Many times, we carry the weight of guilt, shame, or painful memories that make us feel stuck, as if we’ll never be able to change or be free. But the truth is, our merciful Lord doesn’t want us to remain trapped in the past. He sees our pain, He knows our struggles, and still, He invites us to something greater. He calls us to rise up, to trust in His forgiveness, and to begin again.

God’s mercy is not about pretending our sins never happened, it’s about transforming our hearts and giving us the grace to start anew. He offers us a future filled with hope, not defined by our failures, but shaped by His love. With Him, no matter how broken our past may be, a new life is always possible.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let’s ask the Lord to give us humble hearts, hearts that know our own weakness and are slow to judge others. Let us remember that Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it. And that includes each one of us. May God bless you.