It’s Never Too Late for God: Mercy and Restoration

It’s never too late for God. He lifts us up, even when everything seems lost. This Sunday, the liturgy reminds us that every new beginning is possible. But it requires a double conversion: of gaze, and of life.

The liturgy of this Sunday reminds us of an important message: it is never too late for God. The Gospels are full of such stories of new beginnings — Zacchaeus the tax collector, the prodigal son, and many more.

These new beginnings, however, require a double conversion: first, of gaze, then of life, as today’s Gospel illustrates.

It presents a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees over the case of a woman caught in adultery. Rigorously applying the law of Moses, the Pharisees are ready to stone her. According to Jewish law, adultery carries a sentence of death (cf. Lv 20:10). While the law punishes the sin definitively, Jesus proposes a response that opens to life, not condemnation. Through his attitude, Jesus invites the Pharisees to a conversion of gaze, and the adulterous woman to a conversion of life. This is the double conversion we are called to imitate.

Conversion of Gaze

Conversion of gaze, first of all, because too often our eyes judge and trap people in their situations.

Like the Pharisees, focused on upholding the law, our defense of values can leave no way forward for those who fall short — unlike the behavior of Jesus toward the adulterous woman. Without approving her actions, Christ sees that she is more than her sin, capable of better, created in the image and likeness of God. The look of kindness that Jesus casts upon her enables her to stand up and start anew.

We are invited to look upon every person, every situation, with such eyes.

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth—do you not perceive it?” (Is 43:18-19)

And this, God has always done. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God is the one “who makes a way in the sea and a path through mighty waters” (Is 43:16). God opens up a future — He does not lock us in the past.

Conversion of Life

Then comes conversion of life! This invitation is addressed to everyone — to those who live far from God, but also to us, who strive to follow Christ’s teachings. We always need to convert, to set out, to walk toward God. And for that, it’s never too late. No, it’s never too late to return to God and let Him lift us up!

“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal.” (Phil 3:13-14)

This is the Christian’s daily drive.

And Christ invites us with words full of tenderness and truth:

“Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” (Jn 8:11)

Prayer of the Day: Lord Jesus, You who came not to condemn but to save, Change my gaze, transform my heart. Teach me to love like You do, To believe in life stronger than sin. And make me a witness of Your mercy. Amen.

 

Biblical References

• Is 43:16–21
• Phil 3:8–14
• Jn 8:1–11

 

Gospel according to Saint John

At that time, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn, he returned to the Temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand in the middle and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?”

They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.

So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

She replied, “No one, sir.”

Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”