5th Sunday of Lent Year C - 13/3/2016 - Gospel: Jn 11:1-45
One and four
I have read somewhere it says something like when we point a finger to someone, there is only one finger that points outward to the person and the rest of the fingers points into oneself. The fingers point inward to us and yet we often don't see it simply because it is hidden under the palm of our hand. Furthermore, the focus at the time was the mistake of a person who stands opposite us and not of our own. The story of the adultery woman caught in the act Jn 8, 3-11 shows that human nature won't change unless we learn humility. We often look outward rather than to look inward. The outward looking dominates our mind and heart and guides our actions. The higher we are in a leadership role the less we look inward because it is hidden in the name of accountability and that will justify our action when we point finger to other.
The Scribes and the Pharisee fall in the trap of their accountability. When they brought the adultery woman to Jesus they had already condemned her. They used their position and the legal system to justify their actions. Regardless of the public shame and humiliation the woman endures within her own community, they brought her to Jesus with an ill intention to catch Him off guard. They wanted to challenge His teaching about forgiveness and compassion. To their consternation Jesus refused to talk to them about their judgemental attitude but asked them to look inward to see the shame of their own.
If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.v.7
Jesus asked them to do the self examination of conscience. Look deep in your heart and see the relationship you have had with others. The self examination made them realize that they were not better than the woman whom they judged. They left the scene one by one, beginning with the eldest. The longer we live the more sins we had accumulated. We don't see it because the mountain of our own sin covers our vision. Self examination helps us to realize how wrong we were and that helps us to forgive others. Jesus told the woman
Neither do I condemn you, go away and don't sin anymore.v.11
Jesus judged not the woman as the way her society treated her. Instead Jesus publicly frees her from condemnation- I don't condemn you. Jesus' compassion toward her was much more than she would expect - go away and don't sin anymore. Jesus observed the teaching of Moses- adultery is a sin and should be avoided, but he gave no punishment. Instead Jesus opens to the woman another door.
People of the ancient world condemned both adultery and adulterous. Jesus condemns adultery but not adulterous and the modern world ignore it. Ignorance is not a solution. It is better for us to give support adulterous so s/he can draw strength to do the right thing and sin no more.
The Scribes and the Pharisee fall in the trap of their accountability. When they brought the adultery woman to Jesus they had already condemned her. They used their position and the legal system to justify their actions. Regardless of the public shame and humiliation the woman endures within her own community, they brought her to Jesus with an ill intention to catch Him off guard. They wanted to challenge His teaching about forgiveness and compassion. To their consternation Jesus refused to talk to them about their judgemental attitude but asked them to look inward to see the shame of their own.
If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.v.7
Jesus asked them to do the self examination of conscience. Look deep in your heart and see the relationship you have had with others. The self examination made them realize that they were not better than the woman whom they judged. They left the scene one by one, beginning with the eldest. The longer we live the more sins we had accumulated. We don't see it because the mountain of our own sin covers our vision. Self examination helps us to realize how wrong we were and that helps us to forgive others. Jesus told the woman
Neither do I condemn you, go away and don't sin anymore.v.11
Jesus judged not the woman as the way her society treated her. Instead Jesus publicly frees her from condemnation- I don't condemn you. Jesus' compassion toward her was much more than she would expect - go away and don't sin anymore. Jesus observed the teaching of Moses- adultery is a sin and should be avoided, but he gave no punishment. Instead Jesus opens to the woman another door.
People of the ancient world condemned both adultery and adulterous. Jesus condemns adultery but not adulterous and the modern world ignore it. Ignorance is not a solution. It is better for us to give support adulterous so s/he can draw strength to do the right thing and sin no more.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia