Self-conviction is wisdom: The Fifth Sunday of Lent 2025

                                              Self-conviction is wisdom:

The Fifth Sunday of Lent 2025 

April 6, 2025

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Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11

 

This Gospel passage is beloved because of the forgiving wisdom of Jesus, who gently calls out hypocrisy in those who hold condemning judgments. What is remarkable is that those very willing to condemn others convict themselves when they are given a chance to reflect upon their own principles. Pope Francis identified with this passage when people were looking for him to authoritative make a pronouncement on a moral issue and he replied, “Who am I to judge?” It is a great question. We must ponder why we are so certain that our thoughts and opinions are right. Wisdom teaches us that we do not own the truth, and as we acquire more wisdom, we are less certain we become. Wisdom brings about tolerance, understanding, compassion and empathy. 

 

We must examine the unfortunate situation of this woman. Jesus gazes upon her and sees her. He sees beyond what others see. This sacred gaze takes the distorted image that society has of her and restores her to her true identity. She can become who she was intended to be. For us, to see ourselves clearly, we must look away from ourselves and take off our masks. We must let Jesus gaze upon us and behold our goodness. Otherwise, we only see our false selves. 

 

Before encountering Jesus, this woman was known for her sin. Now, as you look at your own sin, God does not hate you for it. God does not even focus upon your sin, so it is best that you let it go. The sin that someone else committed against you? God does not despise you for it. God does not focus upon your guilt and shame. Jesus calls you into a relationship and your job is to cultivate it. He wants to be in the relationship with you more than you can imagine. If you could see how God sees you, you would do everything to grow into that image. There’s still so much more to learn about God, and as you do so, your image of God will expand. That is what happens in this Gospel passage. Those who were in process of judging had to expand their notion of God. 

 

Our false selves are born when we fail to move out of the stage in which an infant believes he or she is at the center of the universe. A person can develop illusions of autonomy, self-sufficiency, or centrality, and we must recognize that illusions are simply not the truth. The self is wounded by society through many ways. Childhood formation is designed to help us live in friendship with others, and in our faith, our false self must die. This is what happens when Jesus calls us into friendship. We grow into the person we are intended to be. 

 

We judge and convict from our false selves, and that may serve as an indicator that we must pause to get more information. Self-conviction is a sign of wisdom. It may tell us that we have gone too far or acted too harshly, and all we have control over is how we choose and act. Jesus did not only gaze upon that woman; he gazed upon those who cast judgment, and they walked away because they knew they needed to grow in wisdom. We are all in a process of growing. Let’s help each other by being a little more tolerant and a little less certain. In fact, why don’t we learn to walk with each other and support one another in our journey of faith? That is a more sacred walk. 

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

Monday: (Daniel 13) Daniel’s sharp advocacy skills spare the life of Susannah who has been unjustly accused of immoral sexual relationships.

 

Tuesday: (Numbers 21) As the wandering Israelites passed through the desert near the Red Sea, many are bitten by seraph serpents, but Moses erected a bronze serpent that he lifted up for those bitten to gaze upon the image and be cured. 

 

Wednesday: (Isaiah 7) Annunciation: Ahaz is tempted by the Lord to ask for a sign but he will not. The Lord gives it anyways: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son named Emmanuel.

 

Thursday: (Genesis 17) The Lord said to Abraham: You are to become the father of a host of nations. You will become fertile; kings will stem from you.   

 

Friday: (Jeremiah 20) Terror on every side. Let us denounce him. The Lord is with me like a mighty champion.

 

Saturday: (Ezekiel 37) My dwelling shall be with my people. I will be their God and they shall be my people.   

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (John 8) A woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus for a verdict, but he does not answer as he calls upon those who are without sin to cast the first stone. 

 

Tuesday: (John 8) Jesus tells the Pharisees that they will lift up the Son of Man and will then realized that I AM. 

 

Wednesday: (Luke 1) Gabriel was sent to Mary of Nazareth to inform her that she has been chosen by the Lord to bear a son who will be called holy, the Son of God.

 

Thursday: (John 8) Whoever keeps my words will never see death. Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.

 

Friday: (John 10) The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus, but he wanted to know for which of the works he was condemned. He went back across the Jordan and remained there.

 

Saturday: (John 11) Many came to believe in Jesus. Caiaphas asked, “do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people?”

 

Saints of the Week

 

No Saints are celebrated this week.

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• April 6, 1850. The first edition of La Civilta Cattolica appeared. It was the first journal of the restored Society. 
• April 7, 1541. Ignatius was unanimously elected general, but he declined to accept the results. 
• April 8, 1762. The French Parliament issued a decree of expulsion of the Jesuits from all their colleges and houses. 
• April 9, 1615. The death of William Weston, minister to persecuted Catholics in England and later an author who wrote about his interior life during that period. 
• April 10, 1585. At Rome, the death of Pope Gregory XIII, founder of the Gregorian University and the German College, whose memory will ever be cherished as that of one of the Society's greatest benefactors. 
• April 11, 1573. Pope Gregory XIII suggested to the Fathers who were assembling for the Third General Congregation that it might be well for them to choose a General of some nationality other than Spanish. Later he expressed his satisfaction that they had elected Everard Mercurian, a Belgian. 
• April 12, 1671. Pope Clement X canonized Francis Borgia, the 3rd general of the Society.