04/04/2022
Reflection by Fr Alex Cymerman, OFM Conv:
THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, April 3, 2022
(Sunday Mass Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Phil 3:8-14; John 8:1-11)
“NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU. GO, AND FROM NOW ON DO NOT SIN ANYMORE.”
And so, we come to the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Palm Sunday is one week away, and Holy Week follows. Some of us may remember how, on this Sunday in the past, all the statues in church were covered with somber purple cloth in an effort to de-emphasize our attention on the saints, and focus on Jesus Crucified for our sins. It was, therefore, odd that the Crucifix was covered, too. That may go back to a time when the main altar Cross showed Jesus dressed in kingly or priestly garments, to show Jesus “reigning from,” rather than “suffering on” the Cross. In some places the sacred images are still covered, although most of today’s churches don’t have as many statues, especially in the area of the Altar of Sacrifice, which is the center of our worship.
In today’s first Mass reading, the Prophet Isaiah consoles the people: God no longer wants to punish the people for their past sins. “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; SEE, I AM DOING SOMETHING NEW.” Through the prophet, God proclaims a new day and forgiveness of past sins. It is time and a reason to rejoice!
The penitential-season’s Scripture readings recall God’s Chosen People as unfaithful, ungrateful, and unrepentant. Their history reveals the effects of Original Sin. As I say so often (maybe too often?), our reflection on “original sin,” is not about Eve enjoying an apple. What we need to reflect on is the “origin” of all sin: when we think that we know better than God.
In those Old Testament stories, the Jewish people come across as an ungrateful bunch. And that is NOT fair. God’s people of the New Covenant don’t merit a standing ovation either. That’s us! Yes, our beloved Church has a lot of wounds, too. Like “the authorities” brought that adulterous woman to Jesus in today’s Gospel, contemporary “authorities” have brought our Church into the presence of Jesus, accusing us of crimes and misdemeanors. Like that woman, we are embarrassed; we are scared. WHAT WILL JESUS SAY? But it’s not just the Church’s sins. Many of us individuals have plenty reason to fear. Yes, WHAT WILL Jesus say?
If you watched the Oscars last week, you witnessed an unscripted moment of violence by a snappy-dressed and snazzy “star.” Some folks applauded. A little bit of violence seems to satisfy hungry hearts and empty heads. They think it’s cool! That’s the attitude of too many. OK, this was the Oscars! How unreal is that? But, What Would Jesus Do “W.W.J.D.”? I’m neither promoting the Oscars nor defending or criticizing anyone here. But it is fair to say that the victim did not hit back; and the guy who hit the other one has apologized, admitted that he did wrong, and is willing to accept consequences. WOW! Maybe there is hope for our world. Alleluia!
Throughout our Lenten season we reflect on sin and how it destroys who we are and what God calls us to be. Our Catholic tradition invites us to approach the Sacrament of Forgiveness and healing, and our Lenten devotions emphasize that. Those who say that Catholics are obsessed with sin miss the point. What we are “obsessed” with is FORGIVENESS!
It seems as if God reveals a similar “obsession.” Jesus’ two headlines from today’s Gospel - for us to reflect on - are: “Neither do I condemn you,” and “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her.” That is the essential Christian revelation. It makes real “Love God with all your heart and soul,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mosaic Law would sentence both the man and the woman guilty of adultery to death. Roman law forbade anyone but Roman authorities to condemn a citizen to death. Here, the religious authorities presented only the woman and her sin to Jesus to test Him. If He condemned her to death, He would violate Roman law; if He released her, He would be non-compliant with Mosaic Law; and, of course, if He condemned her, where was all His talk about mercy and forgiveness? We know the story. The embarrassed woman stood before Jesus and the crowd. Jesus was challenged to act. Instead, He began “to write on the ground.” Some wonder what Jesus was writing. I wonder what those Scribes and Pharisees were thinking. Jesus looked them in the eye and said, “Let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone.” (Think about that next time YOU are tempted to criticize or condemn another person!) The elders left. Jesus said to the woman: “I will not condemn you. Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore.”
“See, I am doing something new.” “The Son did not come into the world to condemn, but to forgive.” “Go and sin no more.” “Forgive and you will be forgiven.” “Let the one … who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.” “When you bring your gift to the altar and remember that you have a grievance against your brother, leave your gift at the altar and first go to be reconciled with your brother, and then come to offer your gift.” “Forgive us our sins AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US.”
W.W.J.D.? WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? It’s all there! “Gospel” means “Good News” and there is no better news than forgiveness: God’s gift to us and our gift to others! That’s Christianity!
I’ve never been afraid to come to Jesus with my sins. I know He understands and forgives. Where I have stopped and hesitated is when I was praying: “forgive us our sins AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US.” The key words are “AS WE.” Am I as generous in forgiving those who hurt me as I expect God to be when I’ve hurt Him? That’s a tough one. Forgiveness is not easy. It cost Jesus His life. Sometimes I’ve been hurt by others, or thought I was. I fully expect God to forgive me my sins so that I can start anew. But if I can’t forgive those who hurt me, that bridge over troubled waters stays broken. There will never be “something new” if we don’t – or can’t – forgive. There are people walking wounded because they can’t let go of something said, done, or not done to them in the past. We may need advice and help to do that, but we must do it. If not, we are prone to criticize, condemn, and that leads to more hurt, more pain, and even more sin. Our kids today see too much criticism, vengeance, even violence than they need to see. God says “forgive.” But when we think we know better, well, there is that “Original Sin” once again. We think we know better than God. How is that working!
FORGIVENESS is God’s Lenten and Easter gift. Celebrate the Sacrament of Forgiveness, and share it as God’s gift. That “something new” is precisely what the world needs now!
GOD BLESS….
