1. Once he got then out of Egypt, did God say, “See you. You’re on your own now”? Or did God take care of the needs of the Israelites at different times on their journey?

2. God said, “remember not the things of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!” What is the “something new” God is doing in your life today? Could it be synodality, where we can all discuss what needs to be changed to allow for more mercy, which would follow Jesus’ example in today’s Gospel?

Second Reading
Philippians 3:8-14

1. Comparatively speaking, what are all your other possessions worth, compared to Christ? How far are you willing to “accept the loss of all things” in order to gain Christ? Does this happen all at once or would baby steps be required for you to accept the loss of all things?

2. St. Paul says in this reading, “forgetting what lies behind, … I continue my pursuit toward the goal.” So do you forget what lies behind? Or do you drive down a highway constantly looking in your rearview mirror? Do you “strain forward to see what lies ahead?” What happens to “now” if you are always looking forward or backwards?

Gospel
John 8:1-11

1. What was the woman’s reaction when Jesus said “neither do I condemn you. Go and from now on do not sin anymore”? From his actions, what do you think Jesus thought about the law that dictated stoning? What would he think of torturing prisoners? Capital punishment?

2. Jesus came to bring us new life. Which brings about conversion and new life? “Being a guardian of, and implementing the Law” or having mercy and being forgiving? Could “Mercy First” be the “something new” from the First Reading?

On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, the liturgy presents us the episode of the adulterous woman (cf. Jn 8:1-11). In it, there are two contrasting attitudes: that of the scribes and the Pharisees on the one hand, and that of Jesus on the other. The former want to condemn the woman because they feel they are the guardians of the Law and of its faithful implementation. Jesus, on the other hand, wants to save her because he personifies God’s mercy which redeems by forgiving and renews by reconciling. …

Jesus’ interrogators are confined to narrow legalism and want to oblige the Son of God to conform to their perspective of judgment and condemnation. However, he did not come into the world to judge and condemn, but rather to save and offer people a new life.

Angelus, 5th Sun of Lent
Pope Francis, April 7, 2019