Jn.8:1-11
Everyone has untold stories of pain and sadness that make them love and live a little differently than you do. Stop judging, instead try to understand. ” (Anonymous) When we are fully possessed by our self-righteous mentality, we will be eager to judge and condemn others. The fifth Sunday of Lent invites us to inculcate the virtue of understanding others with their own shortcomings rather than being always judgemental. The gospel passage of the day presents to us the story of a woman caught in adultery. We encounter pharisees and scribes bringing a woman who was caught in the very act of committing adultery. The interesting factor is that the pharisees and scribes were quite sure of Moses’ law, which authorised them to exercise the punishment of stone to death both man and woman who engaged in adultery. However, the law demanded two witnesses to the act to begin the execution, but here the witnesses were missing. And also, the man who was equally guilty along with the woman who was found missing. Simultaneously, they let the man escape, granting him the favour of the Jewish patriarchal system.
If they were so sure of what to do, why did they bring the woman to Jesus? Jesus who reinterpreted the Ten Commandments from a new perspective definitely will have a say in this case. Therefore, if he doesn’t support stoning, they could accuse him of going against mosaic law of Moses. If he agrees, they could accuse him of challenging the Roman authorities. Why because Sanhedrin had right to try criminal cases but could not carry out death penalty without the Roman approval. They wanted to manipulate his opinion and use as political weapon against him. They were too cunning so that wanted to hit both the targets with the same short.
Jesus did not answer in the first instance. Instead, he was writing on the floor. He was indifferent to their self-righteousness and eagerness to judge this woman. Anyhow, they were not ready to leave him and persuaded him to pronounce his judgement. Nevertheless, he was carrying on writing on the floor. We are not sure of what did he write. The gesture of Jesus refers to Jer. 17: 13 which reads: “O hope of Israel, O Yahweh all who abandon you will be put to shame those who turn away will be written in the earth because they have abandoned the fountain of living water.” Writing on the floor Jesus wanted to remind them that they too are sinners, subjected to God’s judgement who refuses to his invitation to come in faith to him, the fountain of living waters.
And also, God gave them commandments in handwritten form to Moses, which means not only the sixth commandment but also all the other nine commandments were equally important. Jesus tells them to let the one among them who is without sin be the first to throw the stone at her. The law permitted the witness of the act to begin the trail by stoning the culprit. Instead of giving them permission to begin the trail, Jesus asks them to examine their own sinfulness and their violations of all the other commandments. If they have not violated any other commandment, then they can stone her. Hearing the elderly speak to the youngest, everyone leaves, because no one is without flaws. Like the woman, before Jesus, we were all sinners who stood in need of his mercy and forgiveness. In the end, she was left all alone. Jesus asks her: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ” (Jn. 8:10) Jesus raises her dignity from fallen to forgiven. He became the face of God’s mercy to her. The woman who came to him, encountering her own death, is now restored to a new life.
It is easy to condemn a person and stone them to death with our indifference towards that person, social ostracization, etc. Can we become the face of God’s mercy by being understanding towards that person? Can we give him/her a second chance? Can we be a good shepherd who embraces with all our hearts the lost and the wounded? When we hear about someone’s failure often, we play the part of pharisees and scribes by accusing them of their moral indecency. Can we ever think or reflect on what caused that person to end up in such a sinful state? Is it merely seeking bodily pleasures? Could it be because of poverty, extreme loneliness, lack of security and a need for love. I am not ending by justifying the failures; Jesus gives her a gentle reminder that “Neither do I condemn you.” Go your way, and from now on, do not sin again. ” (Jn. 8:11) It gives her a second chance to start a new life. Why can’t we, if God can?