March 21, 2010 5th Sunday of Lent Is. 43:16-21; Phil. 3:8-14; Jn. 8:1-11 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:     http://www.usccb.org/nab/032110c.shtml   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________       The Gospels depict Jesus as especially sensitive to the needs of poor and disadvantaged people, those who have been pushed to the margins of the community. The woman caught in adultery, who stood in shame in the midst of men, was not only guilty of violating marital trust; she was also a marginalized woman. It is clear that the scribes and Pharisees were less interested in upholding the law of Moses than they were in trapping Jesus. They used the woman to accomplish this. If Jesus agreed to her being stoned to death, he would appear to be as bloodthirsty as were these “righteous” men. If he protested her execution, he would be opposing Mosaic law.   When Jesus said, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” they were in a dilemma. They had shamed the woman, using her to trap Jesus. Instead, without minimizing her sinfulness, Jesus showed her the respect she deserved as a human being, treating her with compassion. He did not disregard the law, for he exhorted her: “Sin no more.” Clearly, he valued repentance and conversion more than just reprisal.   This woman represents all the people we may have relegated to the margins of society, not merely because we do not approve of their lifestyles, but because for some reason or other we consider them socially unacceptable. They may not measure up to our standards because of racial or ethnic origin, class or economic status, religious or political affiliation. We may disdain them because they are too liberal, or too conservative or too idiosyncratic. Jesus’ love was offered to all, regardless of their social status. So must our love extend to all.   We are called to reflect on the marvellous goodness of God in our lives: the theme of God’s steadfast love. We have been brought back from captivity, and we are filled with joy; God has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.   The readings remind us that we cannot stand self-righteously and condemn the lives of others, when God is calling them tenderly to conversion. We cannot cling to the past, which may be so comfortable and even socially acceptable, when God is doing something new. We live in a world that desperately needs something new. This wondrous newness of God will be born out of conversion, not coercion; it will spring from repentance, not reprisal. It will take shape in the councils of the world, in the boardrooms of the workplace, at the tables of families. We are all called to “sin no more.”   <<   Previous: 4th Sunday of Lent  | Next: Palm Sunday >>   Go Back to SERMONS (Year C)