Gospel Reading (John 8:1-11)
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst
4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.
5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?"
6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
9 But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
10 Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again."
Tradition holds that the woman was Mary Magdalene. Tradition also holds that Mary Magdalene became a close follower of the Lord and that this was the Mary who was the first to experience the Resurrection. She was also the first, in a long line of sinners, to come before the Lord in guilt and in shame, feeling the weight of sin, knowing that punishment was deserved, yet hoping to receive a share in His compassion.
Throughout this season of Lent, there are many who will approach the Sacrament of Penance during these remaining days of lent. Some comes to church regularly, lead a good christian lives, but recognize that they are full of little sins, venial sins, that are holding them back. Others might have been away from the Lord for a long time. Full of guilt, full of shame, they seek restoration. They seek redemption. ALL ARE WELCOMED BACK. All receive the compassion of the Lord. All are told, 'Neither do I condemn you, Go now and sin no more'. Imagine now, Christ is calling us. Christ is calling us to go back to His holy church.
Let us refer back to the gospel reading. The women who was caught in adultery. Let us put ourselves in her situation. She also must have been ashamed. People were laughing at her. They treated her like dirt. Perhaps she herself thought she was dirt. If they didn't kill her, what type of life would she have left. Who would marry her? Who would give her a place to stay? Who would have mercy on her? She might as well die.
The better-than-thous of her society, shouted that she had to die. The Law of Moses demanded it. What would this Jesus say about that? They were certain that they had him. His hands were tied. This, the Kindest Man to ever live, would have to oppose the Law or agree that she should die.
And through the clamour, she looked up, and saw the Lord looking at her. Compassion for her flowed through him. Nobody cared about her before. The man or men who used her sexually, didn't care that she was going to die, The leaders of the people didn't care about her. Her own family probably disowned her. But Jesus CARED! Then there was a silence. He knelt down and began writing on the ground. Silence. The silence must have been overpowering,. Finally he spoke. 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'. And the sheer dynamism of this voice, the kindness and compassion of his voice, forced her accusers to return to the holes from which they had climbed out. Certainly these men were going to kill her. Women have been killed for far less. Even in our modern times, women are treated throughout the world as chattel, their lives completely dependent on the will of their fathers, brothers, or husbands. Horrible things continue to happen to women in the name of religion.
Now, look at the way that our Lord's answer upheld justice without forgoing clemency. He was not caught in the snare his enemies had laid for him; it is they themselves who were caught in. He didn't say the women should not be stoned, for then it would look as though he were opposing the law. But he had no intention of saying 'let her be stoned', because he came not to destroy those he found but to seek those who were lost.
What is this Lord? Are you giving approval to immorality? Not at all! Take note of what follows: 'Go and sin no more'. You see that the Lord indeed pass sentence, but it is sin He condemns, not people.
One who approved of immorality would have said; 'Neither will I condemn you. Go and live as you please; you can be sure that I will acquit you. However, how much you sin, I will release you from all penalty, and from the tortures of hell and the underworld'. This is what human often think, BUT, Our Lord didn't say that.
He said: "Neither will I condemn you; you need have no fear of the past, but BEWARE of what you do in the future. Neither will I condemn you: I have blotted out what you have done; now observe what I have commanded, in order to obtain what I have promised".
We pray today for the conversion of sinners, beginning with ourselves. The time is right for the harvest. This is the time of year, the last weeks of Lent, when many people will be reconsidering their lives, thinking that they can be better, infinitely better than they have been, Pray for the conversion of sinners, starting with ourselves, and extending our prayers to all who are full of guilt, full of shame, afraid to change, and wondering is there any hope of forgiveness for them.
Jesus died on the cross for us, to bring salvation for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Terms of Use: As additional measure for security, please sign in before you leave your comments.
Please note that foul language will not be tolerated. Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, and antisocial behaviour such as "spamming" and "trolling" will be removed. Violators run the risk of being blocked permanently. You are fully responsible for the content you post. Please be responsible and stay on topic.