Word to the Wise
Monday, March 23, 2015 - 5th Week of Lent - Mon
[Dan 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62 and John 8:1-11 or, in Year C, John 8:12-20,877]"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." [John]
In the past week, Pope Francis announced an "extraordinary jubilee year" to begin with Advent 2015. The year will be dedicated to "mercy!" This word has been a hallmark of his brief pontificate, but the world has responded very positively for the most part. If there is a gospel passage that could be significant for the celebration of the year, I would suggest the one for today from the Gospel of John.
There is no question about the guilt of the woman in this scene. As with so many scenes in the Gospel of John, there is more than one level. There is the level of the law, the level of the motives of the scribes and Pharisees, and Jesus' response in mercy. It shouldn't be hard for any of us to imagine similar circumstances in which we may have felt that no mercy should be shown to a particular perpetrator. Jesus does not condemn, but he does admonish the woman not to sin any more. It is that forgiveness that I think many of us (including myself) will find challenging. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, I must extend that mercy to many different kinds of people. Outside that forum, I have to still extend that kind of mercy.
Lent is a good time to check into "mercy" in our lives. Are we in the crowd? Are we one of the scribes or Pharisees? Are we the woman? Are we Jesus? How merciful can we be? AMEN
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