Readings: Is. 43:16-12; Phil. 3:8-14; Jn. 8:1-11
Go and Sin No More!
1. Once again, there is a confrontation between Jesus and the scribes and the Pharisees. The self-righteous, law-abiding, faultfinding, know-it-all, holier-than-thou, pious, hypocritical, and moralizing scribes, and the Pharisees! In today’s Gospel, the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught committing adultery, with stones in their hands, to Jesus, demanding permission to kill her. Incidentally, we heard nothing of her accomplice; they could only capture the woman. She broke the law and so must pay for it with her life. Jesus, who always taught his disciples to forgive all hurts and show mercy, even to sinners, is caught in the middle of two polarities, the righteous bigots, and a poor sinner. Was he to go against his teaching on mercy, compassion, and forgiveness or side with the law and have the woman put to death? Siding with the law will deny the woman the opportunity to repent of her sins. But since God is a God of a second chance, Jesus is always on the side of the oppressed, the poor, disenfranchised, sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors, the forgotten, the voiceless, the hopeless, and the nobodies. He reminded us: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Lk. 5:32). Again, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (Jn. 10:10). Jesus came for the last, the least, and the lost. His middle name is Mercy, and his mission is to preach compassion and forgiveness.
2. We become a new creation each time we can forgive people. “See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Is. 43:119). God brought the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through the desert, making them walk through water dry-shod into the promised land. He saved them because he loved them. He was never tired of forgiving them. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Jer. 29:11).
3. Paul knew of God’s immeasurable love for him, and so he considered everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus (second reading). Having been forgiven, Paul began to preach reconciliation. We are forgiven for serving! The sinful woman who was forgiven in the Gospel offered her life in service to God. She was a disciple of Jesus from that day even to the grave of Christ. No wonder she was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection. When we are forgiven, we are liberated and sent on a mission, as ambassadors of forgiveness. This is something new indeed! God has made something new of us; can we perceive it?
4. Today’s liturgy is an encouragement to us, to approach the throne of grace and seek forgiveness for our sins. We must be humble and go to confession so as to be part of the new thing that God is doing. Yes! Jesus gave the men standing with their stones permission to kill the woman only if they had no sins. Was any of them worthy of casting the first stone? Not one! Why? Because they were sinners, just like her. Do you think you have no sins? If you consider yourself a sinner, why don’t you go to confession? When did you go to confession last? If you went two, five, or seven years ago, Jesus invites you to: “Come back to me with all your heart, don’t let fear keep (you) us apart; Trees do bend though straight and tall; So, must we to others’ call. Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new lives.”(Song by John Michael Talbot). Come, taste, and see the goodness of the Lord. Come to Christ and drink deeply from the abundance of his love and mercy. His love conquers all your sins. His forgiveness will turn your selfishness to selflessness, your unforgiving heart to a humble and forgiving heart, and your pride to humility. He will give you the joy of the Gospel and make it possible for you to perceive the new thing he is doing in your life. What are you waiting for? Come, he is waiting!
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.
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