Fifth week of Lent

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

One of the common threads tying these three readings is the idea of leaving the past where it belongs: behind us.

“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past” Isaiah 43:18
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” Philippians 3:13
John’s account of Jesus calling on anyone who had never sinned to cast the first stone on a woman accused of adultery.

I read a progression in these iterations of God’s call to us to turn the page: leave the past behind, do this to focus your heart, mind and spirit on the greater goal of a more intimate relationship with God and finally, in the Gospel, that God is prepared to wipe our slate clean if we acknowledge and regret our transgressions.

It’s fitting that these are readings meant for Lent: a time of rebirth and rediscovery of our faith.

Dumping old grievances can be liberating: freeing all that time and energy invested in nursing whatever old grudge we may harbour is a lot of hard and ultimately fruitless work.

But dropping those complaints of the past and trying to learn the lessons that could be drawn from injustice, such as trusting in God rather than seeking revenge, are disciplines that do strengthen our spiritual bond with God.