Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Lent Cycle C

The lectionary translation of the readings for this Sunday can be found HERE

1st Reading:

Isaiah 43:16–21

This prophecy speaks of the fall of Babylon, the people who conquered Israel and held them captive. In the prior verse, God says, “I’m the one who is sending Cyrus to conquer Babylon for you.” In this selection, he likens it to bringing the people out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and the wilderness, to the promised land. He ends by saying, “This is something new”, I’m doing it so you can recount my praise.

2nd Reading:

Philippians 3:8–14

In this selection, Paul speaks of considering everything (every “thing”) as a loss. He seems to be speaking of, psychologically and spiritually, at least, distancing himself from the things of this world and from trying to use them to make himself “righteous”. Instead, he chooses to “gain” Christ, be in him, and have the righteousness the comes from faith in him.

Gospel:

John 8:1–11

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. _{Jn 8:3} …Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. _{Jn 8:6b}

Gospel Reflection

I have a friend who wants to make sure you are paying attention to him when he talks. He has a tendency to poke you in the arm when he comes to a point he thinks is important or he’ll try to hold on to your arm while he is sharing to make sure you are paying attention.

I’m sure you all know people like that. The ones that annoy me the most are the ones who seem to be looking for a response, from me, which indicates agreement with their feelings. I usually try not to respond because I don’t like feeling manipulated. Also, whatever it is they want me to agree with, emotionally, is usually more complex than their explanation would indicate.

For that reason, I believe that Jesus stooping down and writing in the dirt was his way of communicating that he wasn’t interested in what the Scribes and Pharisees were presenting. Scripture scholars point out other reasons he may have done that, but I don’t think they hold up. They also point out that my understanding is a possible answer. I, of course, think it’s probable because I expect Jesus to be like me, well… sort of.

If we observe how Jesus dealt with the woman, in contrast with the way the Scribes and Pharisees treated her, we can learn something. The Scribes and Pharisees were being legalistic in their approach. They showed no concern for the woman at all, just for the law. That’s what Jesus turned away from.

Jesus, on the other hand, addressed the woman directly. He seemed to respect her as a person although he did not indicate that what she did was right; remember, he told her to go and sin no more. She must have experienced that he was no threat to her and realized that it was out of his love for her that he was calling her to goodness.

Notice that the approach of the Scribes and Pharisees was not life giving at all. In fact, it would have resulted in her death. Jesus’ approach, on the other hand, invited her into a new life of goodness. It was life giving on the physical level as well as on the spiritual level. It had a chance of succeeding.

If I were writing an ending to this story, it would be all about how rich her life became. He didn’t have to hold on to her arm to ensure her attention. His obvious love for her, in a situation which was designed to destroy her, held her attention, I’m sure. And it was that love that made her life rich.

Jesus calls us to set aside legalism and take a personalistic approach to the people he puts in our path. We are to be the experience of his love for them just like he showed his love to the woman caught in adultery.

That’s the only way we will increase the amount of goodness in our society. That is how we carry on the ministry of Jesus. Today we are asked to choose. Do we want to treat people like the way the scribes and Pharisees did, or do we want to treat people with the love of God, like Jesus did.

You decide and I pray we all make the right choice. God bless…

Personal Reflection:

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. Jn 8:3 …Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. Jn 8:6b

Question:

What words or phrases attracted your attention during the Liturgy of the Word on Sunday? What connection do those words or phrases have to your day-to-day life? (Why do you think they attracted your attention?) What might God be trying to say to you through these words or phrases? What response should you make? What action should you take?

Alternative:

Share about/reflect upon a time when you did something wrong and got found out. Was the other person judgmental or compassionate with you? What effect do you think the other person’s reaction had on your future actions? What is the best way to deal with you when bringing a failing to your attention? What does that say about how you should treat others?

Verse by Verse:

Jn 8:3 “…a woman…” | From the context, this would be either betrothed or married woman being unfaithful to her husband. There was no prohibition of affairs between married men and unmarried women. (AYBC) In the case of a betrothed or married woman the law states that both she and the one with whom she was unfaithful, should both be put to death. (see Dt 22:23f, Lv 20:10 and Dt 22:22)

Jn 8:5 “…Moses commanded us to stone such a woman…” | Deuteronomy says that, in the case of a betrothed woman, they should be stoned but both Leviticus and Deuteronomy simply state that, in the case of a married woman, they should be put to death. They don’t say how the sentence should be carried out.

Jn 8:6 “They said this to test him…” | The test is not clear. It could be that he was being asked to comment on whether she should be stoned or put to death in another way. Also, we might assume that they expected Jesus to say not to harm her. It’s not clear.

Jn 8:6 “…bent down and began to write on the ground…” | JBC states that Jesus probably did this to indicate his disinterest in the matter. AYBC offers a similar explanation among several other possibilities.

Jn 8:11 “…Neither do I condemn you…” | At Jn 8:15 Jesus states, “I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge…” At Jn 9:39 Jesus states “I came into the world for judgement…” While he does not condemn the woman, he seems to be judging that the scribes and Pharisees are acting inappropriately.

Jn 8:11 “…do not sin anymore.” | It is important to note that Jesus is not saying she did no wrong. He is calling here to goodness in a non-judgmental, non-condemnatory way.