Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Intention: For peace and compassion in our hearts, that they may rise to help heal whatever distress or fear we feel during these difficult times.
Today’s Gospel | John 8:1-11
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. 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. 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.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. 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 anymore.”
A Lenten Reflection
It would be understatement to say that living in community is not always easy. Working out how a group of people, even when sharing a common vision and goals, can best live together cooperatively will inevitably lead to challenges. One such challenge is how to resolve the conflicts that occur when the best interests of the individual and those of the community are at odds. In the narrative of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus is asked to choose between the strict teaching of Mosaic Law and his own lessons about mercy. The crowd believed that the sinfulness of one person, if not addressed as the Law required, would bring punishment upon them all. Jesus knew this, but he also knew that there was larger point to the Law that the crowd was missing.
The problem of sin is essentially a problem of relationships. Individual sin wounds a person by distorting the person’s unity with God and wounds the community by distorting its unity with the sinner. The need is to heal both the sinner and the community through reconciling one to the other. This was the larger point of the Law that had become lost. Aversion to sin is not the end, but the means. Wholeness and solidarity are the ends.
Author and pastor Paul David Tripp has suggested, “The church is not a theological classroom. It is a conversion, confession, repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness and sanctification center, where flawed people place their faith in Christ, gather to know and love him better, and learn to love others as he designed.” The spirit of community is one in which human foibles are seen is invitations to empathy and creativity. We can build bonds of understanding and support on the struggles and imperfections that we share. Lent is a good time to reflect on how we might grow in our resolve not to look for stones to throw but for ways to love instead.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son taught that we should not judge lest we ourselves be judged. During this holy time of Lent, we give thanks for the opportunities to learn to live with compassion. When we see others stumble, let us be present to them and help them without judging. May we always seek to serve the well-being of others. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.