Fifth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflections C

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 

· How often do we come to Jesus to listen and to be taught?

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. 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. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. 

· Their hearts were not right. They were not interested in doing what is right but in discrediting Jesus. Do we sometimes act of wrong motives?  Do we sometimes seem more righteous than others?

If they were so righteous, why did they not bring the man who was                  guilty of the same sin?

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

· Even knowing their real motive, Jesus was extending a hand of mercy to them. Even when others are wrong and we know it, are we judgmental or merciful like Jesus? Do we condemn or give them a way out?

·       Jesus reminded them and us that we are all sinners and who are we to         judge the other? In another passage, Jesus says that we should take             the beam out of our own eye before we point to the splinter in the               other.

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. 

· What was Jesus doing? Some interpret Jesus’ action by saying that he was writing their sins in the dirt. Others say that he was giving them a chance to save face and not condemn themselves as they were condemning the woman.

·      Beginning with the elders, was this because they realized they had

·      more sins?

So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “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.” 

· Jesus knew the scriptures. God desires not the death of the sinner but that the person repents and lives. If we choose to die in sin, that is our choice.

· Jesus doesn’t condemn us for our sins but offers us the grace of repentance. He called sin, sin, but he extended forgiveness and mercy to the sinner.

· Do we reflect on our sinfulness? Do we remain in sin? Do we repent and heed the word of Jesus: “Go, and from now on do not sin any more?”

· When was the last time you went to confession?