As we move towards the Holy Week Celebration, the readings of this 5th Sunday of Lent bring us hope and assurance of new life rooted in the unconditional love of God, offering mercy and forgiveness to each one of us in Jesus' name.

Isaiah speaks of the newness of life God has started working among us, in the here and now. Can we not see amid the Covid-19 pandemic, when leadership is losing their moral compass, and unscrupulous destruction of nature leads to massive

flooding throughout the country, God has intervened by sending concerned citizens to help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, rebuild broken homes and rescue lives? These simple folk, from different faiths and ethnicities, witness the reality that God, who lives among us, is ever ready to help us start life afresh. Jesus' consoling words, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." touch the core of our yearning for God's forgiveness and our desire to start our lives all over again as we renew our friendship with Him. He knows how vulnerable we are to sin. Like St Paul, Jesus invites us to leave the past behind and allow Him to transform our lives, filling us with hope, joy and peace even in trial and tribulation. Our faith in Christ helps us transcend our present suffering and count our blessing instead, as we commit our lives in loving service to others.