"Neither do I condemn you": Sunday 5th (C) of Lent (Mar 13, 2016)
Liturgical day: Sunday 5th (C) of Lent
Gospel text (Jn 8,1-11): Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak Jesus appeared in the Temple again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. Then the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone. «Master», they said, "this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now the Law of Moses orders that such women be stoned to death; but you, what do you say?". They said this to test Jesus, in order to have some charge against him. Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger.
And as they continued to ask him, He straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her". And He bent down again, writing on the ground. As a result of these words, they went away, one by one, starting with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Then Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?". She replied, "No one". And Jesus said, «Neither do I condemn you; go away and don't sin again".
"Neither do I condemn you"
Fr. Pablo ARCE Gargollo
(México, D. F., Mexico)
Today, we see Jesus "writing on the ground with his finger" (Jn 8:6), just like He was busy and, at the same time, absent minded in some more important chore than having to listen to those accusing that woman brought to him because "she has been caught in the act of adultery" (Jn 8:3).
We must pay attention to Jesus Christ's peace of mind and sense of humor, even in moments that for others may be of great stress. In our present days, that slip away at breakneck speed, twisting and compressing our nerves on great many occasions, this is a practical lesson for each one of us.
The silent and funny escape of the accusers, reminds us that God is the only one who can judge us and that we are all sinners. In our daily life, in our work, in our family or friendly relations, we often make value judgements. More than once, our judgement is wrong and harms others' good fame; which is a true lack of justice that forces us to retraction. And this is not always so easy. Upon contemplating Jesus amidst that “filthy mess” of accusers, we may very well understand what saint Thomas Aquinas pointed out: "In every work of God both justice and mercy are united and they support each other. Justice without mercy is cruelty; and mercy without justice is ruin, destruction".
Let us fill us with joy knowing for sure God forgives us everything, absolutely everything we ever did, are doing, or will do, through repentance in the sacrament of confession. In these Lenten days, in the sacrament of reconciliation, we have the splendid opportunity to go to whom is rich in mercy.
And, in addition, a concrete resolve for today: when I shall look at the others, I shall say deep in my heart the same words Jesus said: "Neither do I condemn you" (Jn 8:11).
Source: evangeli.net
