If there is one consistent message in the readings for this
Fifth Sunday of Lent, it is that we must look to the future, not to the past.
As Catholic Christians, we are a people of eternity, a people who concentrate
on the hope and promise of our Lord and Savior. Jesus reminds us many times
that His “Kingdom is not of this world.” (Jn 18:36)
Living a life of stewardship places a person with an eye
always on that other kingdom. St. Augustine once wrote that “A life of holiness
does not lead one to Jesus, but Jesus can lead one to a life of holiness.” That
is our challenge as good stewards — to keep our eyes on the Lord, our minds
open to His Word, and our hearts open to His love. If we do that in the present,
the past will not weigh heavily upon us, and the future will take care of
itself.
The first reading from Isaiah reinforces the idea of looking
to the future, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago
consider not; see, I am doing something new.” The passage goes on to speak of
the release of the Israelites from captivity. It is the harbinger of what it is
to come — Jesus’ redemption of us, so that we can be a part of His Kingdom.
St. Paul reminds the Philippians in the second reading that
their focus must be on what is to come, not on what has been or what may be.
Paul views what he calls the “finish line” in the last verse of the reading:
“Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies
ahead, I continue my pursuit toward that goal, the prize of God’s upward
calling.” As we continue our Lenten journeys, this is an excellent reminder —
we are striving toward Easter, but we are also striving toward Christ — we must
not lose our focus.
The Gospel, as is often the case, brings it all together.
What the woman had done in the past was not the focus of what Jesus tried to
teach. There are two important elements in His teaching, both of which we need
to take note. First, He forgives the sin of the woman, but tells her to “Go and
sin no more.” He is trying to bring her to repentance by showing her His mercy.
However, a second factor, equally important, is the Lord’s effort to show the
“prosecutors” their sins. “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first
to throw a stone at her.” He is providing us with two cautions, both notable to
us during Lent in particular. Not only are we to strive to be without sin, but
also we are called to avoid the sin of self-righteousness, the sin of not being
forgiving ourselves.
If we truly attempt to live lives of stewardship, we must
keep in mind that we follow that way of life as a “calling.” However, we are
not to condemn others because they fail to live that way. We also must remember
to love all regardless whether we think they are “good” people or not. All of
this is fulfilled because we understand that our rewards are in Heaven, not
necessarily on earth — in the future, not in the present. The eminent scholar,
author, and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis put it this way: “When Christians
cease to think of the other world in their future is when they become
ineffective in this world.”
Source: TheCatholicSteward.com
