Homily - The Fifth Sunday of Lent
Today in our Gospel[1], we encounter one of the most meaningful and symbolic episodes in the life of Jesus. Today he teaches us the value of compassion, the value of compassion and the value, the enduring value, of empathy.
There is, however, one detail of this Gospel that always causes me great vexation and makes me indulge in pretty serious reflection – exactly what was Jesus was writing in the ground? What he was scrolling with His finger? Was he doodling or writing? The Academics give all sorts of answers. Some say he was writing down the Ten Commandments, others say he was writing down the names or, indeed, the sins of the woman’s many accusers. Still, others that He was writing the names of God. What then He was writing?
Pope Francis often speaks of God as a story teller[2]. For him, God takes the many triumphs, failures, hopes, dreams, and regrets of our lives and makes into a story that is compelling, intriguing and captivating. In His grace, In His love and in His mercy, God pulls together all the chapters of our lives and gives them expression and meaning. He takes everything in our lives and, like some Master designer, weaves from them a beautiful tapestry[3]. Now the back of the Tapestry may look messy with its tangled threads – the events of our life – and maybe this is the side we dwell on when we doubt. But the right side of the tapestry, the one God sees, displays a magnificent story. When we look at our lives, with patience, and with discernment, we instinctively know what lies behind the tangled threads, and we recognize in faith what God can create even out of our mistakes.
The question, however, remains. Exactly what was Jesus writing on the ground? I think He was writing the story of that woman’s life – not from the perspective of the angle of a self – righteous mob – but from the perspective, from the viewpoint of a loving and forgiving Father. He was molding her story into something beautiful and radiant.
What is the story of our lives? Who have been the major characters
[1] Gospel: John 8:1-11
Instead of judging, the accusers must examine themselves
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before them all, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
[2] Christus Vivit, n.
[3] N.b Maria Gabriella Perin
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