Fifth week of Lent – The woman caught in Adultery
As I looked over the readings for this weekend, I decided to compare Paul’s former way of life to that of the woman’s in today’s Gospel. Both were going down the wrong path, both are shown Jesus’ mercy. Paul realizes there is nothing more that he could ever desire than the love and mercy of Jesus. The woman will soon make that same discovery. In today’s 2nd reading Paul tells the people of Philippi that he considers everything in this world as a loss after knowing Jesus as his Lord and Savior and that the only thing of value is what comes from his faith in Jesus. He admits that he’s not where he wants to be in his faith life but feels he will be one day because Jesus has taken possession of him. Listen again to what Paul said: Jesus has taken possession of him. Before Jesus can take possession of anyone, they we have a relationship with him. I wonder how many of us can claim Jesus has taken possession of us.
In today’s Gospel we hear about Jesus’ relationship with his father and how united they are with one another as he goes to the Mount of Olives to pray and then later to the Temple to teach for he longs to be in his Father’s house and share his Father’s love. Unfortunately, while Jesus is teaching. he’s interrupted and it’s not by someone seeking knowledge or a means to grow in their faith as Paul was but by people seeking to cast judgement and what’s saddest of all - it’s by the scribes and pharisees. They saw the need to drag a woman into the temple who they caught in adultery and accuse her in front of everyone and they want to know - if Jesus is on board.
Jesus is in the temple teaching about the law and the prophets and love and forgiveness when he’s interrupted by scribes and pharisees who happen to be proficient in the law and in the importance of piety and who feel they are authorities on the matter, try to influence Jesus by referring to the Law of Moses which commands such women be stoned. Knowing Jesus is man of mercy, they want to see if he ignores Mosaic Law. Jesus however takes control of the situation and defuses the tension in the room by not responding to their arguments but remains silent. He then bends down and starts to write on the ground. I liken the image of him bending down as an analogy of him stooping down to their level after they humiliate this woman by dragging her in front of everyone and of all places in the temple - while their own sins lay hidden because of the good fortune of not being caught.
It was never recorded what Jesus wrote on the ground but because they still question him after he writes on the ground the 1st time. I’m assuming he may just have written a scripture passage. It isn’t until Jesus writes on the ground a 2nd time and asks the question that influenced Christians for centuries that a change takes place in them. For it was not until after Jesus states: Let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone, that her accusers begin to walk away one by one. It makes one conclude that the 2nd time Jesus writes on the ground it’s more of a personal message directed toward them who now look more earnestly at wrongs they’ve committed as they walk away with their heads down. Seeing everyone gone, Jesus straightens up to which I liken to the analogy of the woman who is finally able to straighten up now that no one left - to stand in judgement of her.
Jesus then asks the women, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She responds No one sir. Then Jesus says to the woman then neither do I condemn you and he tells her to go. He forgives her sin - but he doesn’t justify her sin - but tells her not to sin anymore. Today’s Gospel should make us look - more closely at ourselves before we accuse anyone - and to be grateful for the love and mercy Jesus offers us.
I found it interesting that this week’s Gospel of the woman who has gone astray follows last week’s Gospel of the son who has gone astray. The prodigal son is shown the love and mercy of the Father while the woman caught in adultery is shown the love and the mercy of the Son. Seeing the forgiveness of the Father and Son in both of these passages gives us a glimpse of the forgiveness the Father and the Son has for those who return from a wayward past. When I hear the words let the one among you who is without sin cast the 1st stone, I not only see it as Jesus turning the focus away from the woman, but I also see it as a time for us to exam our conscience and seek an opportunity to confess our own sins.
Just as God opens the way for the Israelites - bound by the Egyptians - to be set free, God opens the way for all people - bound by sin to be set free - through the love and mercy of his son Jesus who was willing to give up his life on the cross for us so that one day we too can have eternal life. Always be aware we are not defined by sin but by love and mercy of Jesus. St Paul considers everything in this world as a loss after knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior and that his faith in him gives him hope allowing him to know that one day - he’ll be okay because Jesus has taken possession of him.
Don’t get caught up in the things of this world but allow Jesus to take possession of you. Yesterday we had a baptism after mass because the family decided they want Jesus to take possession of their son. Remind yourselves of your own baptism when Jesus entered your life and took possession of you and if for any reason you had walked away from him, now’s the time to come back and receive his forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. The sacrament will be offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday of holy week. Don’t miss the opportunity to become free of all that weighs you down. St Paul said - forget what lies behind – and look forward to what lies ahead.
As spoken in the words of St Paul: I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling in Jesus Christ. May this also be our goal so that one day we too will achieve the prize of God’s upward calling. Always know the love and mercy of Jesus and - give him thanks for 2nd chances.