Scripture:
Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. Isaiah 43:19
Brothers and sisters, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 12-14
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin.” John 8:11
Reflection:
As we continue our Lenten journey, we begin to hear intimations of the end of Lent, the Resurrection. The reading from Isaiah gives us images of a desert flowing with water and rivers in a wasteland. Isaiah tells us not to remember the past but to look to a future of newness. In the letter to the Philippians, Paul continues this message of “straining forward to what lies ahead”. He reassures us that he has not reached perfect maturity but that he is intent on pursuing his calling, of reaching his goal. And in the Gospel Jesus gives us an exquisite example of mercy and forgiveness. Perhaps these images are inviting us to look beyond our personal wastelands, our imperfect attempts at maturity and to keep our eyes on the prize. What is God calling us to? What is the something new? The readings encourage us to persevere in “straining forward” and to be consoled by the compassion and tenderness of Jesus.
Practice:
As we enter into the fifth week of Lent, perhaps we can take some time to reflect on God’s call in our lives. Is there something new? Do we have something(s) or someone(s) to let go of in the past? Make the “something new” a reality. Put your trust in the compassionate Jesus of today’s Gospel.