The question of “Justification by Faith” puts to rest the possibility of human condemnation and preoccupation with pleasing human beings; it places sentencing and acquittal squarely in God’s court. Today’s gospel is an example: a woman already sent to the gallows by other human beings, for committing adultery, gets a free lawyer, a free advocate – God himself, in Jesus Christ. You know what, she was acquitted, despite her sin! Last Sunday, it was a prodigal son, who had his father whom he defrauded defending him; today, the lawmaker, God himself, becomes a lawyer to save the life of a sinner on the verge of extermination.

What stands between us, sinners, and the enjoyment of God’s mercy and forgiveness, here and now, and eternal bliss in the life to come, is despair of forgiveness and neglect of God’s daily forgiveness of our sins. Despair fights against human trust in God’s forgiveness and forgiving power; it is the strongest weapon the devil uses to conquer Christians.

Breaking away from and heading off sin, to chart a new path in life, is only possible when one considers the cost of sin to Christ for our liberation. We can make a new start in life when our gaze is fixed on the cross of Christ and the love that suspends him on the cross. When fear gives way to love, because we worship a God who delights in forgiveness and has no predilection in condemning sinners, conversion becomes possible.

Perhaps the consciousness that we are all sinners, in need of God’s mercy, reminds us to refrain from condemning others. Possibly, forgiveness has to be appreciated for it to be a power leading toward conversion. Maybe sin remains attractive to most of us because we have closed ourselves in on ourselves that we’re unable to look beyond ourselves to see God in others around us. Indeed, we can only show our conversion through love; not an imaginary love or just feelings, but real concrete love: the very deeds that show that we love; when we visit the sick, provide for the hungry, visit prisoners; yes, when we use our freedom from sin as opportunity to walk over to lend a helping hand and make the other wear a smile; when we can share in the sufferings of the other, and work to better their lot in life; then, forgiveness will be meaningful to us, because we have experienced it and now share it with others.

                                   From Fr. Ayo Ayeni. C.S.Sp.