Mass Reading: Sunday - 06th April 2025

First reading
Isaiah 43:16-21
See, I am doing a new deed, and I will give my chosen people drink

Thus says the Lord,
who made a way through the sea,
a path in the great waters;
who put chariots and horse in the field
and a powerful army
which lay there never to rise again,
snuffed out, put out like a wick:

No need to recall the past,
no need to think about what was done before.
See, I am doing a new deed,
even now it comes to light; can you not see it?
Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness,
paths in the wilds.

The wild beasts will honour me,
jackals and ostriches,
because I am putting water in the wilderness
(rivers in the wild)
to give my chosen people drink.
The people I have formed for myself
will sing my praises.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 125(126)

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
    it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
    on our lips there were songs.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels
    the Lord worked for them!’
What marvels the Lord worked for us!
    Indeed we were glad.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage
    as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears
    will sing when they reap.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

They go out, they go out, full of tears,
    carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song,
    carrying their sheaves.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

________

Second reading
Philippians 3:8-14
I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have Christ

    I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have Christ and be given a place in him. I am no longer trying for perfection by my own efforts, the perfection that comes from the Law, but I want only the perfection that comes through faith in Christ, and is from God and based on faith. All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death. That is the way I can hope to take my place in the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have become perfect yet: I have not yet won, but I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Joel2:12-13

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –
come back to me with all your heart,
for I am all tenderness and compassion.

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

________

Gospel
John 8:1-11
'Let the one among you who has not sinned be the first to throw a stone'

    Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

    The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 06th April 2025

 

EZ 37:12-14; PS 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; ROM 8:8-11; JN 11:25A, 26; JN 11:1-45; JN 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33B-45

Once again, this week we are reminded of what a loving and merciful God we serve. Consider these key verses from each of our readings on this fifth Sunday of Lent: First from Isaiah, “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?” Next from St. Paul, “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.” Then the verse before the Gospel: “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.” And finally, from the Gospel, these words from Christ to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

A clear theme emerges from these verses — when we turn to God for forgiveness, He is indeed gracious and merciful. So much so, that not only will He forgive our sins without condemnation, but He will also make us completely new creations in Christ. Indeed, it seems our heavenly Father delights in doing this for His children. What gratitude we owe to Him!

What is more amazing is that this all-perfect and holy God of ours draws so very near to us. Our sins do not drive Him from us, but rather to us so that He can set us free from them. Look carefully at Christ’s actions and posture in the Gospel reading as He deals with both the crowd of people, the Scribes and Pharisees, and the adulterous woman. “All the people started coming to Him and he sat down and taught them.” “He bent downand began to write with His finger.” “Again, He bent down and wrote on the ground.” He “straightened up” when He confronted the Scribes and Pharisees about their own sins. And he “straightened up” when He assured the woman that He did not condemn her for her past. This tells us that Our Lord is not at all distant and aloof from His children. Like a skilled teacher, or loving “big brother,” He bends down to where we are, He sits among us, He stands to confront us when needed and He stands to look us in the eye to remind us of our true dignity.

If ever you feel unworthy to be called His disciple — to serve in a ministry or tell others about your faith — because of your past or because of a vexing sin you can’t seem to overcome, take heart! Seek out God’s forgiveness in the healing sacrament of Confession. Then, forget what is behind you, be filled with gratitude that He has made you brand new — and go! He’s counting on you to share His good news through your witness and through your service to those around you.

We’re all unworthy of the great privilege of being called His disciples. But that is simply cause for greater joy in serving Him and seizing the prize of God’s upward calling in Christ Jesus.

 

Pope's April prayer intention: 
'for the role of women'

Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of April 2024, and invites everyone to pray for the role of women.

The Pope provides concrete examples, citing “discriminatory laws” currently in force: mandatory dress codes, impediments to ongoing education, denial of assistance for job opportunities. And he recalls that “in many countries, genital mutilation is still practiced.” 

Thus, he said, “governments need to commit to eliminate” this discrimination and “work toward guaranteeing women’s human rights.”

He asks us all to respect women, who unfortunately continue to be treated “like something to get rid of,” and who are often victims of violence and abuse in many parts of the world, even in countries claiming to be more advanced. “And if we don’t [respect women],” the Pope adds, “our society will not progress.”