"Hope" - Part of our Lenten Journey ~ by Betty Alexis

Fifth Sunday of Lent
Hope! What a beautiful and most promising word for the Christian journey during this Lenten season. In today's first reading, we saw how God continued to give the people of Israel the promise of hope even when they felt quite destitute. God was prepared to forgive and forget all the "events of the past" that led up to the Israelites being in bondage - namely, their disobedience to God. This is a lesson to us today to remind us that God does not punish, but will forgive us even when we think our sin is too great.

In the second reading, we see how the Apostle Paul bears witness even to the every end. Paul, knowing and having experienced the goodness of Christ Jesus, implores us to keep our eyes on the prize - dying and rising with Christ Jesus. Paul does not show himself as being boastful, even though he could, but rather he humbles himself and continues with his onward journey to become a part of Christ Jesus' death and resurrection. Again, in this reading we are reminded to forget all that happened in the past, and to look towards the future for the promises of God. We, as Christians, need to understand that we serve a most gracious and forgiving God.

The gospel gave such a powerful message of how we need to be more merciful to our brothers and sisters. The scribes and Pharisees all believed that they were holy and very righteous, but unfortunately they were without mercy, for they were quite ready to put one of their own people to death. How often have we acted like the scribes and Pharisees in our dealings with our brothers and sisters? Do we believe that we too, are holy? Are we, at times, boastful Christians?

Let us be more like the Apostle Paul and really take stock of our lives, repeatedly asking ourselves the question: "Are we merciful?" The lesson in today's gospel is a perfect reminder to us of how we should search ourselves before we even think of condemning others. We need to remember that mercy is something that must go hand in hand with holiness and righteousness. During this Lenten season, we must seek Christ Jesus if we are to attain the prize of which Paul spoke. Also, remember Christ has already won the battle for us, and we are His people - we really should be glad indeed!