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Fifth Sunday of Lent
Once again we have a well-known and familiar Gospel story
proposed for our Lenten reflection. The account of the woman caught in the act
of adultery is one that invites us to be neither sinner or judge. She was found
out-discovered-publicly shamed. It happens to most of us at some point in our
lives, usually when we are young. We do something wrong, and get caught. And
then we have to endure the humiliation of our wrongful act being known by
others. It is expected
that we will learn from our mistakes, but that doesn't always happen.
On the other hand, we're sometimes like the scribes and the Pharisees who bring
the accusation. We discover something we can hold against another. Occasionally
it is a secret knowledge that can fester in our hearts. At other times, it is a
public shame that we do not hesitate to propagate for our own advantage. For
whatever reason-vengeance, jealousy, meanspiritedness-
we want offenders to "get what's coming to them."
Maybe in the end, the story of the woman caught in adultery is to invite us to
be neither sinner nor judge. Maybe the point of the story is to act like Jesus.
Could we put ourselves in his role? He extends mercy, but he also proposes
expectations ("do not sin anymore").
These past three Sundays before Holy Week have been about God giving us time.
The fig tree that was allowed to grow another year, the prodigal son who was
allowed to come back home, and the woman who was not condemned, were all given
another chance. We all want that second chance when we sin. This Sunday's
Gospel would suggest if we're going to follow Christ, we have to give another
chance to those who sin against us as well.
Jesus bent down and began to
write on the ground with his finger. But when
they continued asking
him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let
the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." -
John 8:6b-7
©2010 St. Mary of Mount Virgin Church.org Prepared by Digital Pro Quo LLC
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