5th Sunday in Lent
(Cycle "C" - March 28, 2004)


Q. 260:   Why didn't Jesus take this opportunity to speak out against sins of immorality in this gospel passage (Jn 8:1-11)?

A. 260:
  There is a very subtle but very important link between the First Reading (Is 43:16-21) and our gospel lesson about the woman caught in adultery.   It has everything to do with our own Lenten journey and spiritual renewal.

Let's start by looking at the gospel.   Jesus tells the woman's accusers to go ahead and stone her to death - but the stoning has to be started by the one who is sinless.   Dead silence!   And then they all slink away, until no one is left to accuse the woman, who stands alone before God (although she doesn't know that).   Now let's come back to the First Reading.   The Lord tells us through the prophet Isaiah, "Forget all about the terrible past. Your past has resulted in a barren life, dryness, like a desert. But I am doing something new! I am making rivers in the desert! I bring new life, for all of you, my chosen people!"

This prophecy is fulfilled in today's reading.   Jesus brings "new life" to the woman, gives her another chance.   He does not condemn her; after all, the Father sent the Son to save the world, not to condemn it (Jn 3:17).   He does caution the woman, however, never to sin again (Jn 8:11).   The message continues today for his followers.   We are to condemn no one.   In fact, the very measure we use to judge others, will be used to judge us (Lk 6:38)!   Instead, we are to encourage everyone to avoid sin and return to God's ways.   That is evangelization - spreading the Good News of God's forgiveness, mercy and unconditional love.   Rivers of life flow from the side of Jesus on the cross, pierced for our sins and for our redemption!

Know Your Catechism!   Are you ready to be judged by God, using as a sole criterion the very way in which you yourself judge others?   It is absolutely critical to understand that judgment about actions is within our responsibility, but not judgment and condemnation about people - we leave the latter to the justice and mercy of God (CCC #1861).   The limits of critical judgment concerning individuals must never stoop to defamation (CCC #2497).

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

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