Today is the 5th Sunday of Lent. There are many times in life that we are confronted with the reality of an encounter with a man called Jesus through prayers, meditations, His Words and Sacraments. Through this season of Lent, we enter into some sort of a test to check the suitability of receiving God’s mercy and love.
The readings today remind us about the concept of starting all over again. It is an opportunity to re-evaluate ourselves, to change and to return to the Lord.
In the first reading, taken from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, we hear, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new.” The Prophet Isaiah is giving a reflection that the people tend to forget even the Exodus and all the events of their being created as a nation. However, their new creation will be the new memory-point of their loved identity as chosen. While they were sitting in Babylon’s exile, they no longer recall that event of their being saved, but the prophet reminded them that something new, something even more, is soon to take place. They are invited to look ahead where the desert will bloom, rivers will flow, and there will be new life for the people God has chosen anew.
In the second reading, taken from St. Paul to the Philippians, it says, “I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord.” There is so much goodness we can grasp in the Lord who has made us His own. It is in the Light of Christ which frees us to live more gracefully in order to continue His mission of redemption.
The gospel, taken from the gospel of St. John, narrates to us about a woman who was set up by her accusers. The Pharisees also use her for their purposes. Let us reflect on how the message of the Lord summons us into action.
First, this story is about a woman in captivity by her accusers because of her adulterous acts which is against the Law. They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.” (v.4) Jesus meets her in the midst of an angry crowd. Her accuser is wanting to impose the punishment according to what the law requires. Jesus, being with the people, was not being judgmental unlike the Pharisees whose interests are self-justifying performance of the Law. Jesus invited her and her fellow-sinners in order to keep with the Law by stoning her if her accusers themselves are without sin. Nobody is left to throw stones against her.
Second, Jesus said that any of them who had never sinned should throw the first stone. We could imagine, they slowly dropped their rocks like guilty children and left the adulterous woman with Jesus. He was so kind when he told her that he did not condemn her. I could see and feel how relieved she was and also how changed she was. Thus, Jesus’ mission is to let her live as loved.
Third, “Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger…. Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (vv. 9-11) What did Jesus write? It’s important enough to consult the thought of St. Augustine on this particular issue. We will not feel frustrated to start with St. Augustine, who preached a series of sermons about the gospel according to St. John.
According to St. Augustine, he wrote, “What else does He signify to you when He writes with His finger on the ground? For the law was written with the finger of God; but written on stone because of the hard-hearted. The Lord now wrote on the ground, because He was seeking fruit. You have heard then, Let the law be fulfilled, let the adulteress be stoned. But is it by punishing her that the law is to be fulfilled by those that ought to be punished? Let each of you consider himself, let him enter into himself, ascend the judgment-seat of his own mind, place himself at the bar of his own conscience, oblige himself to confess… Each looking carefully into himself, finds himself a sinner. Yes, indeed. Hence, either let this woman go, or together with her receive ye the penalty of the law…” (Augustine, Sermon on John Chapter VII. 40–53; VIII. 1–11). We understand that God the Father writes His commandment on the stone, and the Incarnate Son writes the eternal Law on the ground to fulfill it and continues writing on the ground to shame those who condemn. Ultimately, Jesus sends the woman back with a sense of relating as one member of the whole community. At the same time, Jesus invites the crowds to be conscious and be contrite of their sins as well.
There are other interpretations like this which St. Jerome suggests Jesus was writing out the names of the accusers to fulfill Jeremiah 17:13 “Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust,” is more an allusion to the action of Jesus in today’s gospel. I also have mentioned on my previous “Dictate of the Heart,” regarding others’ thoughts on this matter; however, St. Augustine’s teaching is more attractive to me, thus far.
Lent is the season of self-examination and repentance from sins rather than declaring self-satisfied penances and religious strictness which deter ourselves from sincere and genuine conversion. We are called to rise with Jesus and gather together as a community renewing our baptismal promises, not to utter any condemnation towards others, but to heed the call of our own exodus back to God where we belong. Let us continue to celebrate life in Jesus, our Lord.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
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El Dictamen del Corazón
Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma, Año C
- Isaías 43:16-21
- Salmo 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
- Filipenses 3:8-14
- Juan 8:1-11
Hoy es el Quinto Domingo de Cuaresma. A lo largo de la vida, a menudo nos enfrentamos a la realidad de encontrar a Jesús a través de la oración, la meditación, Sus palabras y los Sacramentos. Esta temporada de Cuaresma es un tiempo para someternos a una prueba personal, para reflexionar sobre nuestra dignidad de recibir la misericordia y el amor de Dios.
Las lecturas de hoy nos invitan a considerar el concepto de empezar de nuevo. Es una oportunidad para reevaluarnos, para cambiar y para volver al Señor.
En la primera lectura del Libro del Profeta Isaías, escuchamos: “No recuerden lo pasado ni piensen en lo antiguo;
yo voy a realizar algo nuevo. El Profeta Isaías recuerda al pueblo que a menudo olvidan incluso los grandes eventos de su pasado, como el Éxodo, y su creación como nación. Sin embargo, la nueva creación que Dios está trayendo será una nueva memoria definitoria de su identidad como pueblo elegido. Mientras estaban en el exilio babilónico, ya no recordaban los eventos pasados de salvación, pero el profeta les asegura que algo aún más salvador está por venir. Dios los invita a mirar hacia adelante, donde el desierto florecerá, los ríos fluirán y una nueva vida brotará para el pueblo que Él ha elegido nuevamente.
En la segunda lectura de la carta de San Pablo a los Filipenses, escribe: “Todo lo tengo por basura, con tal de conocer a Cristo Jesús, mi Señor.” Hay muchas cosas buenas que podemos alcanzar en la vida, pero es solo a través de Cristo que verdaderamente somos hechos Suyos. A la luz de Cristo, somos liberados para vivir con gracia y continuar Su misión de redención.
El Evangelio de San Juan cuenta la historia de una mujer sorprendida en el acto de adulterio. Los fariseos la usan para sus propios fines, buscando atrapar a Jesús. Reflexionemos sobre cómo el mensaje de Jesús nos llama a la acción.
Primero, la mujer es sorprendida en el acto de pecado, y los fariseos la traen ante Jesús, diciendo: “Maestro, esta mujer ha sido sorprendida en flagrante adulterio.” (v. 4) Ella está de pie ante Jesús en medio de una multitud enfadada, y sus acusadores exigen el castigo prescrito por la Ley. Sin embargo, Jesús no responde con juicio, a diferencia de los fariseos, cuyo interés está en la autojustificación a través de la Ley. Jesús invita a los acusadores y a todos los presentes a considerar su propia pecaminosidad: que el que esté sin pecado, tire la primera piedra. Uno por uno, los acusadores dejan caer sus piedras y se van.
En segundo lugar, Jesús dice: “El que de ustedes esté sin pecado, sea el primero en arrojar la piedra contra ella.” Lentamente, uno por uno, los acusadores se van, sintiéndose convictos. La mujer queda con Jesús, quien le muestra misericordia. Le dice: “Yo no te condeno.” Imaginen cuán aliviada debe haberse sentido, y cómo cambió ella por este encuentro. La misión de Jesús es hacerle saber que ella es amada.
En tercer lugar, Jesús se agacha y comienza a escribir en el suelo con Su dedo, diciendo: “El que esté sin pecado, que tire la primera piedra.” (vv. 9-11) ¿Qué escribió Jesús? San Agustín ofrece una interpretación profunda. Él sugiere que Jesús escribió en el suelo porque la Ley, que fue escrita en piedra por el dedo de Dios, se había endurecido. Ahora, el Hijo de Dios escribe en el suelo, simbolizando una llamada al autoexamen. San Agustín escribe: “Que cada uno de ustedes se considere a sí mismo, que entre en sí mismo, suba al tribunal de su propia mente, se coloque en el banquillo de su propia conciencia, se obligue a confesar…” (San Agustín, Sermón sobre Juan 7:40–53; 8:1–11). Al hacer esto, Jesús invita a la multitud a mirar hacia adentro, a reconocer su propia pecaminosidad y a apartarse de la condena.
Existen otras interpretaciones, como la sugerencia de San Jerónimo de que Jesús escribió los nombres de los acusadores para cumplir con Jeremías 17:13, que dice: “Los que se apartan de ti serán escritos en el polvo.” Aunque he discutido diversas interpretaciones en homilías anteriores, la perspectiva de San Agustín es la que más resuena conmigo.
La Cuaresma es una temporada de autoexamen y arrepentimiento, no de penitencias auto-satisfechas o prácticas religiosas estrictas que impiden la verdadera conversión. Estamos llamados a resucitar con Jesús, a renovar nuestras promesas bautismales y a unirnos como comunidad. No debemos condenar a los demás, sino escuchar el llamado de nuestro propio éxodo de regreso a Dios, nuestra verdadera casa. Sigamos celebrando la vida en Jesús, nuestro Señor.
Que Dios los bendiga.
P. Arlon, OSA
