"The Face of Mercy"

Homily – Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year C) "The Face of Mercy" Readings: Philippians 3:8-14, John 8:1-11

Today, the Word of God invites us to contemplate a powerful scene—a moment of truth, tension, and tenderness. The Gospel presents us with three faces that speak to the heart of the human condition, and even more so, to the heart of God.

1. The Face of Mercy – Jesus

First, we see Jesus, the radiant Face of Mercy. He is calm, composed, and compassionate. He does not ignore sin, but He goes deeper. He sees not just the act, but the heart. He sees not just the failure, but the person. When others see someone to condemn, Jesus sees someone to save and redeem. He stoops down—not to pick up stones, but to write in the sand, as if to say: Let mercy write the final word, not judgment.

2. The Face of the Sinner – The Woman

Next, we see the woman caught in adultery. She stands as a symbol for all of us. Maybe we haven’t committed her sin, but who among us is without sin? Who among us hasn’t stood, at some point, ashamed, exposed, and afraid? She represents the human heart in its weakness, but also its capacity for renewal. And Jesus says to her—and to each of us: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin again.” Not a free pass, but a call to transformation.

3. The Face of Judgment – The Pharisees

And then, there are the Pharisees and scribes—THE FACE OF JUDGMENT. Holding stones, quoting laws, ready to accuse. They had the law on their side—yes! According to Leviticus 20:10, adultery was punishable by death. They were right by the book... but wrong in the heart.

Justice or Mercy – What Do You Choose?

Out of 613 commandments in the Torah, many are about justice and retribution. Exodus 21:23-25 – "But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."

Leviticus 20:10 – "If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death."

It was just according to the law of Moses.

BUT JESUS CAME AND TURNED IT UPSIDE DOWN:

“you have heard it said... but i say to you: love your enemies. turn the other cheek. be merciful as your father is merciful.” –Jesus shows that Mercy gives what is undeserved.

Sometimes, I look at the mercy of God and say, “Lord, thank You that You are not like me.”because if we’re honest—sometimes we want mercy for ourselves and justice for others.

Truly, we have a God whose mercy is beyond measure.  He is mad with his mercy;

 Instead of punishment, He offers redemption, love, and forgiveness.

 Instead of condemning sinners, He invites them to repent and be transformed.

 Instead of judgment, He reveals infinite mercy.

 Instead of choosing the face of justice, Jesus reveals the face of mercy.

🧡 St. Isaac the Syrian once said: “There is no sin that can outweigh the mercy of God.” “God can even be accused of being unjust by human standards, because His mercy is so great.”

🔥 St. Catherine of Siena declared: “You, eternal Trinity, are a mad lover! You ran like one drunk and crazy to death because You fell in love with what You had made.”

Yes, God is crazy in love with us. Now we can say that God is crazy with his mercy; “From the Cross to the confessional, God seems mad in the eyes of the world—mad with mercy”

Justice or Mercy – What Do You Choose?

I believe that the world today is reverting to a time before Jesus—the era when everything is governed by law. Family members take each other to court, spouses accuse each other, and conflicts are settled with lawsuits. Justice is demanded, fairness is sought, and mercy is often neglected. It seems that we are living in a world of choosing judgment and justice over mercy.  I ask myself questions: Are we becoming a people of stone-throwers again? Will there be any room left for forgiveness and mercy?

A Story of Mercy

There’s a beautiful story about Napoleon and a mother who begged for her son’s life. Napoleon said, “Justice must be served.

The mother, in tears, begged, "I am not asking for justice; I am asking for mercy."

He does not deserve mercy.” The mother replied, “If he deserved it, it would not be mercy.” And Napoleon, touched by her words, spared the son.

Brothers and Sisters,

This week, let’s ask ourselves:

Am I quick to condemn, or quick to forgive?

Do I hold stones or open hands?

Do I reflect the Face of Mercy, or the Face of Judgment?

Jesus is not asking us to be naïve. He’s not asking us to ignore sin. He’s asking us to go beyond justice... to choose mercy, like He did.

So I ask you again:

Do you want to be the face of mercy, or the face of judgment?

May we be like Christ—stooping down, lifting up, and whispering to the sinner: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” Amen.