5th Sunday of Lent

 The vehemence of St Paul in the Second Reading today when he says "For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish," (Phil 3: 8) is surprising. This is even more so when we consider the original Greek meaning of the word "rubbish" is actually "human excrement"! The translator does not find it culturally acceptable to opt for that meaning since this will be read in churches around the world yet Paul, who is most likely dictating the letter, is clearly emotional and not observing social niceties. The key thing though is what has stirred such a repudiation of his former beliefs and life? St Paul says: "... in order that I my gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith." (Phil 3: 9) How much of my behaviour is motivated by a desire to vindicate of justify myself in the sight of others or of God? Do I still think that I can redeem myself? Can I be a good person by observing laws and doing my duty? Such attitudes are condemned by Jesus in the scribes and Pharisees. They think that by condemning the woman caught in adultery and confounding Jesus that they will be vindicated in their righteousness. Their hypocrisy is revealed by Jesus' statement: "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (Jn 8: 7) The key thing in our Lenten journey is not what we do but how we acknowledge our sins and open ourselves to grace so that we may be true and humble servants of the Risen Lord in a society that does not believe in God or sin and thinks that thrhough science we can perfect ourselves. St John points out: "If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking the darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself  is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleans us of all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 Jn 1: 6-10)