Fifth Sunday of Lent (2)
Our texts show us the healing of trauma: the rhythmic chanting of God 's past and future salvation, the chosen marking up of the past as a loss and the looking forward to the future of resurrection life with Jesus, and this action being a process, and Jesus' calming response when confronted with the woman taken in adultery as he moves the accusers from attacking to reflecting and the woman from passive cowering to the freedom of non-condemnation.
Title
Outline
I am listening to a book on surviving trauma
Isaiah is speaking into the trauma of the exile
Paul deals with his trauma by turning his gaze toward the future
Jesus likewise speaks to the human situation
Sisters, there is a lot here to reflect upon, for most of us have had some degree of trauma by our fault or the fault of others
Readings
FIRST READING
Isaiah 43:16–21
16 Thus says the LORD,
who opens a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
17 Who leads out chariots and horsemen,
a powerful army,
Till they lie prostrate together, never to rise,
snuffed out, quenched like a wick.
18 Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
19 See, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the wilderness I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
20 Wild beasts honor me,
jackals and ostriches,
For I put water in the wilderness
and rivers in the wasteland
for my chosen people to drink,
21 The people whom I formed for myself,
that they might recount my praise.
RESPONSE
Psalm 126:3
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
Oh, how happy we were!
PSALM
Psalm 126:1–6
1 A song of ascents.
When the LORD restored the captives of Zion,
we thought we were dreaming.
2 Then our mouths were filled with laughter;
our tongues sang for joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD had done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us;
Oh, how happy we were!
4 Restore our captives, LORD,
like the dry stream beds of the Negeb.
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with cries of joy.
6 Those who go forth weeping,
carrying sacks of seed,
Will return with cries of joy,
carrying their bundled sheaves.
SECOND READING
Philippians 3:8–14
8 More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith 10 to know him and the power of his resurrection and [the] sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ [Jesus]. 13 Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Joel 2:12–13
12 Yet even now—oracle of the LORD—
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
13 Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God,
For he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting in punishment.
GOSPEL
John 8:1–11
1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. 4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.”]
Notes
SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2022 | LENT
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY
First Reading Isaiah 43:16–21
Response Psalm 126:3
Psalm Psalm 126:1–6
Second Reading Philippians 3:8–14
Gospel Acclamation Joel 2:12–13
Gospel John 8:1–11