Imagine the scene: you are in a courtroom, standing before a judge. The worst things that you have ever done laid out for all to see. Adversaries left and right- and the evidence is quite overwhelming. You dread to face the judge- and as the judge walks into the courtroom- you notice a very familiar face that you’ve seen in photos, in movies, and in TV shows… all of a sudden- it strike you: this is the Messiah! This is your Savior! Does your heart jump for joy, or is it a little uncertain?
We don’t often think about the scriptures in terms of our own reality and our own brokenness, and yet, how important that is to see how Jesus is such a powerful support for each of us! It does challenge us to think, however: when we see our Lord and our God, do we see a vengeful judge, or do we see someone that is so much deeper? So much more compassionate? So much more loving that we may have previously thought? The reality of these days as we begin the very last full week of the season of Lent, though it can be a season that seems to take us on such a long journey- is one that will lead us to a place of healing and peace, but only if we travel that way to Christ first!
The first reading for us today comes from the forty-third chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah. If we understand how the prophet is speaking at this time, the people are beginning to approach the very end of the Babylonian exile. They have been in a place of distress and despair for quite some time. Isaiah is receiving from the Lord a new message, because that time of exile is nearing it’s end. Thus, he uses some very vivid and very thought-provoking language to help to recall this simple fact: the Lord is near. The beginning of this text reminds the Israelites that the Lord is the one who opens a way through the sea- a path through mighty waters- and even smites out powerful armies in protection and defense of his people.
As we move through this reading though, notice the very middle of the text: Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! It is an image of the Lord coming into their fractured reality- and into their captivity, and reminding them that this God of power and God of might has potential and power to do something more! The God who has crushed powerful armies in his wake is now preparing to do something new! Do not remember what occurred before, but rather look to this present moment through a lens of hope- because, indeed, God is doing something new. It’s a moment that falls into the middle of this poetic reading- and yet it is so important, because it is inviting the people out of that exile that had happened, and is preparing them for something powerful that is about to happen!
The second reading is taken from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians. This letter is likely written later on while Paul was in captivity, and he is taking a very introspective glance at his life. Specifically, he is reflecting on what his conversion meant for his entire life, and how that changed everything. He is now at a moment where he considers everything else as loss, since he now knows the supreme good of Christ Jesus who is God. He acknowledges that this has not always been very easy. He has encountered loss, and yet, now he is glad that he lost all of what he calls “rubbish.”
Further, he continues to go about reflecting upon the Paschal mystery, and how that has changed everything. He does not consider this as a result of himself, and his own righteousness, but how he has encountered Christ, and how that challenges him to live faith. Further, it isn’t enough to have just grasped this at one point in time, but it is rather about the fact that he is looking to mature in the faith. He is constantly concerned with advancing, and not simply appearing to have it all sorted out. Nonetheless, there is a subtle reminder: he is still pursuing the goal- the prize of the kingdom of God. It’s not finished, but it is a work in progress, even at that later hour.
Finally, we arrive at the Gospel, which is today take from the Gospel according to John. It starts our with Jesus sitting down to teach a few people who had come to him on the Mount of Olives. Now, imagine that this is suddenly interrupted by a commotion: scribes and Pharisees bringing a woman to Him that had been caught in adultery. They bring their charge and tell what they caught her doing. Yet, their question- the Law of Moses would have us stone this woman- but what do you say.
Immediately, notice, Jesus is rather disinterested with their argument. They ask the question many times, so that eventually, Jesus does respond to their persistence: it is really a simple response, but a beautiful one nonetheless: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” We can imagine the Pharisees and the scribes are stunned at the response, because He has held up a mirror to them. He knows what the law of Moses would have had them do, but He is making it utterly clear that they are out of line in their request to be able to stone this woman themselves. So, they leave, until, eventually, the only one who could have stoned her is left there with her. He asks- has anyone condemned you? He treats her with respect. She now knows that no one does, not even Jesus Himself wishes to condemn her. So he gives her a simple commission: “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” He sees what has happened to her, and yet, He forgives and sends her away!
Stop for just a second- let’s go back to that original scene I asked you to recall. Now, apply yourself to that woman’s position, using your own faults instead of hers. Whenever you encounter Jesus, and all other accusations are stripped away- what does Jesus say to you? Does He cast condemnation upon you or does He send you away, freed from captivity? It may not seem like a question that is all that deep, but it does remind us of something important: Jesus desires to free us from that place of slavery! If we go back to the first reading from Isaiah, we are reminded that our Lord sees the way that we are in exile ourselves. Maybe we are not in exile like the Israelites were, but we often experience much the same thing in our own struggle with sin and with weakness!
Further, when we encounter our God, it shouldn’t be something that causes fear or intimidation. When the Pharisees and the scribes were there, they struck terror because they were ruthless. They seemed so legalistic and determined in the way that they conducted themselves, and even stoned those that they felt had transgressed the law in certain ways, that it caused those around them not only to fear them, but also to fear their God! In fact, the scribes and Pharisees were insecure! They knew deep down within their hearts and souls that they were sinful, and they felt the need to “distract” Jesus from their sins, and to try to highlight someone else’s. The question is: do we think of our God in the same way? Do we see God as waiting to throw stones at us at the first chance He gets? If we do, it can be very easy for us to cower behind the sins of others, and try to remove ourselves from our own!
Isn’t Jesus different, however? Notice, He is not interested in the legalistic games of the Pharisees. He doesn’t engage with their politicking in any way, but rather, only pays attention to the soul in front of Him that needs mercy. Jesus doesn’t let the ones who want to appear righteous in comparison to someone else win in their games! Do we also move away from the ways of the scribes and the Pharisees? Do we truly pay attention to this desire, and also seek for Christ’s mercy for us? We can often view our God as an unforgiving judge who rules from on high! Yet, God is a merciful judge. We don’t use this as an excuse to sin in whatever way we want- it isn’t giving us free license! God commissions the woman to go and sin no more- but He still gives her that freedom. This is also a reminder for us, in that, if someone truly desires mercy, we should be willing to give it, since we all need of God’s mercy so greatly! If someone is seeking freedom from vice and to live as God would have them live- we should be a place of encouragement for that- whether it is helping them get to the confessional, or if it is simply listening to them when they speak!
The final thing is that, like Paul, we should recognize, the path to God is not short, straight, and narrow. Often, when we traverse to get to our God, it is going to take us all over the place. Yet, at the end of the day, are we moving with purpose towards our Lord and our God?
Our God truly loves us and desires us to make that return to him. He is a God who loves us so much that He wishes to take our worst wrongdoing away from us. Brothers and sisters, let us commit ourselves to receiving that forgiveness. The Lord commissioned that woman so long ago, and commissions us still today: “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” Let’s trust our God who has made all things new, so that we too can be forgiven, and sent to be made new through Him.
