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Gospel: John 8: 1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
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.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Like skilled fishermen, the scribes and Pharisees believe they’ve caught a big fish – a woman caught in adultery. Now they’re ready to stone her.
Where is the man? He is guilty, too… Maybe he was one of them – an authoritative figure, a neighbor, a friend.
Instead of engaging these brutish men, Jesus just kneels down and doodles in the sand. What’s he writing?
Some say he’s buying time, collecting his thoughts, letting his adrenaline rescind. Others say he’s writing an account of these men’s own sins, reminding them that they have something in common with this woman:
Human nature.
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To be human not only means that this woman is weak – and capable of sin. It also means that she has access to grace.
We’re all capable of change; growth; and repentance. This is what Lent is about – acknowledging our weaknesses… and accepting the grace to change.
As we prepare for Palm Sunday, and the drama that will unfold with our Lord, we should consider how we’ve changed this Lent.
What have we learned about ourselves? Were there any pitfalls? Did we grow? Were any lasting changes made?
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May the goodness sparked within us during this holy season continue to bear fruit so that the words of the Lord may also be spoken to us:
“Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
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Image credits: (1) National Catholic Register (2) God Reports (3) Catholic Answers Shop