Today's little poem of second Isaiah (Isaiah 43:16-21) fits well into the general framework of what's known as the consolation section, wherein a broken people is encouraged by the hopeful vision of a new start. God urges the Jews, battered and bewildered by the Babylonian captivity, to look forward to another 'exodus'. 'Forget past trials and even, triumphs', God says, because what is to come will outshine even the 'great exodus' led by Moses. God is ready, at any cost to himself, to be reconciled with this people, chosen by Him, but now lost through their own fault. One of the most mysterious things about God is His willingness to be reconciled with unfaithful, described in the Bible as adulterous people. (We see Jesus tackling, in today's gospel, the same kind of moral dilemma. More of that later.) So, god is always preparing 'new' options for humanity. He takes the initiative many times throughout the Old Testament. It was the mission of the prophets, such as Isaiah, to repeatedly raise the spirits of the chosen people. In today's Gospel (John 8:1-11), Jesus of Nazareth continues to make abundantly clear what the best of the Old Testament had proclaimed consistently but what had been rejected, equally consistently, by Israel. He didn't restrict himself to words about a Merciful Father God. He became involved, personally, in dangerous situations such as the one recorded by John. A woman caught in the act of adultery was being subjected to a 'kangaroo court', a public trial. Pharisees, representing the worst of the old ways, sought to entrap Jesus. They hoped he would show acceptance towards the woman, sending an ambiguous message to the assembled spectators. If Jesus showed such concern for the 'sinner', refusing to condemn her, was it because he trivialised adultery? No. It was because God uses different means than people do to persuade sinners to repent. There's a big difference between telling a person his ideas or deeds are wrong or immoral, and condemning that person. We commonly condemn the person with his action, leaving little room for change and mercy. In this gospel episode, Jesus is both demanding and merciful towards the woman. She is free to go, but not to sin again. Many Catholics during Lent wilI avail themselves of the good news about God's mercy. They will gather in local communities to be reconciled with God and fellow believers. Such an experience of repentance and mercy is an essential element of mature Catholic spirituality. Read reflections from other Sundays by Father Maguire