5th Sunday of Lent (“C”)
March 17, 2013

Q. 728: What was Jesus writing on the ground of the temple courtyard?

A. 728: Many folks like to speculate about this mysterious action of Jesus in today’s gospel (John 8:1-11). Scripture is silent about what he was writing with his finger. Was Jesus just doodling? Was he writing the name of the sin that each accuser had himself committed? Could he have been writing the name of the male partner in this act of adultery (perhaps even a respected rabbi?), who was not similarly accused? After all, there were a lot of witnesses, but the male gets off scot-free. Or, was it just another subtle, symbolic act pointing to the divinity of Jesus, reminding folks that on Mt. Sinai the covenant was written in stone by God with his finger (Ex 31)? In any event, the cryptic unknown message is not the focus of the story. The focus of the story is twofold: it is about the two-sided approach of good and evil. One way consists of hypocritical accusations; the other way is forgiving love. The Pharisees and Scribes were hypocrites. They were scheming together, with the purpose of causing Jesus to lose honor. These accusers were not interested in justice for the woman’s transgression of the law. They only wanted to trap Jesus. Whatever Jesus said about the demands of the Law of Moses (i.e., a demand that adulterers were to be stoned, Dt 22:22), a “yes” answer would put him in trouble with the Romans, and a “no” answer would put him in violation of the Covenant.

Jesus always takes the way of love. In his response, he does two things. First, he simply reminds the hypocrites to take a look at their own souls. If they were free of sin, then they could go ahead and stone the woman. Of course, everyone has sinned and needs to repent and seek forgiveness. Even the Pharisees and Scribes knew this. So they reluctantly (and with great embarrassment, I am sure) went away, one by one, as they saw the truth in Jesus’ call for an examination of conscience. Secondly, Jesus does not condemn the woman. He simply tells her to go, and change her life by sinning no more. True love is always forgiving!

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Lent is a special time to examine our conscience. If you have acquired a bad habit that has turned your heart to stone, make a decision to repent; invite Jesus into your heart so that he can write his love message of forgiveness there. Use the Sacrament of Reconciliation which he provided through his apostles and their successors. It will restore you to God’s friendship and to the living Body of Christ (CCC 1468-69).

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

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