Mar 17, About Today for Sunday of the 5th week of Lent

Posted by Monica on March 17th, 2013

This is a syndicated post from Divine Office - Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Catholic Church. [Read the original article...]

Fifth Sunday of Lent

“’Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?’” (Is. 43:18-19).

Today is the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Each week during Lent, we are invited to grow closer to Christ as we participate in this enduring narrative. We’ve passed through the tests of temptation. To achieve renewed conversion, we’ve celebrated the sacrament of reconciliation. Our transfigured lives are beginning to show. This week Jesus asks us, as honored guests at the Father’s banquet, to fully accept the newness of our transformation, regaining our dignity as sons and daughters of God. In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the parable of the adulteress woman. When no one is left to cast the first stone, Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again” (Jn. 8:11). Jesus is offering the woman a new life. Her return to dignity is what God desires, but can she accept it? Can we accept it? As St. Paul writes in Philippians, since righteousness is not our own, it is by our faith in Christ that this newness springs forth (Phil. 3:3-14). Daily closeness with Christ allows us to repeat in confidence the day’s responsorial psalm “The Lord has done great things for us, we are glad indeed” (Ps. 126:3). [1][2][3]

Written by Sarah Ciotti
Reviewed by Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB, STD
[1] Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
[2] Adrian Nocent, OSB, The Liturgical Year: Lent & Holy Week (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1977), 171-173.
[3] Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

The English translation of The Liturgy of the Hours (Four Volumes) ©1974, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission by Surgeworks, Inc for the Divine Office Catholic Ministry. DivineOffice.org website, podcast, apps and all related media is © 2006-2011 Surgeworks, Inc. All rights reserved. (90)