March 13, 2016
5th Sunday of Lent (C)
Where is the man? The woman is brought before Jesus accused of adultery but where is the man? Elders wish to trap Jesus in a bind between Jewish and Roman law. Jesus doodles in the sand. Jesus, a teacher and master, may be writing in the sand to pause for reflection for himself, for those accusing and for the woman. When the elders insist on a statement from Jesus, Jesus bids the man without sin to cast the first stone. They leave one by one. Perhaps for the first time in her life this woman is not being used but treated with respect. Jesus does not condemn her but tells her to go and avoid this sin. Jesus does not condone the seriousness of the act but reveals self-righteousness and hypocrisy. For all of us with regrets let us open our hearts to God’s healing mercy. For all of us with stones to throw in judgment let us drop the stones and live in the freedom of God’s children.
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2nd Sunday of Lent
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5th Sunday of Lent (A)
