Praying the Communion Antiphon series: Monday fifth week of Lent

 Praying the Communion Antiphon Series

Praying the Communion Antiphon.

A Time Set Apart – Monday, Fifth Week of Lent

Neither Do I Condemn You

Communion Antiphon (John 8:10–11)
Has no one condemned you, woman? No one, Lord.
Neither shall I condemn you. From now on, sin no more.

 

Thinking About the Words

“Has no one condemned you…?”

The scene is quiet now.

The crowd has gone.
The stones have fallen.
Only Jesus and the woman remain.

Jesus does not begin with accusation.
He begins with a question.

“Neither do I condemn you.”

This echoes what we reflected on last week:

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn…

Here, that truth becomes personal.

Jesus does not deny the reality of sin.
But He refuses to reduce the person to it.

“Go, and sin no more.”

Mercy is not permission.

It is transformation.

Jesus gives both:

• freedom from condemnation
• a call to new life

 

A Deeper Insight

This is one of the clearest moments in the Gospel where we see:

Mercy and truth held together

• The Pharisees bring accusation
• Jesus brings light

And in that light:

• sin is neither ignored nor weaponised
• it is redeemed

 

Connection to the Journey of Lent

Now we can see how far we have come:

• We learned to see clearly
• We encountered living water
• We came into the light

Now we stand here:

known, exposed, yet not condemned

This is the heart of Lent.

 

At Communion

This antiphon is incredibly powerful at Communion.

We come forward like the woman:

• aware of our weakness
• aware of our need

And we hear, quietly:

“Neither do I condemn you.”

But also:

“Go, and live differently.” Jesus forgives our sins and knows our weaknesses. However forgiveness also comes with a responsibility to change and not to continue with the same attitudes and behaviours.  We are human and some sins we may be more prone.  However, we need to have a genuine desire to change

 

Reflection

• Do I truly believe that Christ does not condemn me?
• Where do I still carry shame or self-accusation?
• Am I willing to receive both mercy and the call to change?
• What would “sin no more” look like in one small step today?

 

Prayer

Lord,
you do not condemn me,
but call me into new life.
Help me to walk in your mercy
and to live in your truth.