13 March 2016
Fifth Sunday of Lent
What is immediately striking in the account of the sinful woman brought to Jesus for judgment in today’s Gospel is his long silence, an earth-quaking silence, inviting self-reflection on the part of the accusers.
Whenever he invites me to come to him, he asks me to do so in total honesty. What is sin, really? What does it do to me? Jesus did not come into this world to condemn anyone in the name of moral principles. He came to save every person in a personal encounter, to get rid of the obstacle that prevents the encounter from taking place: sin
Only when Jesus is alone, face to face with this woman, the true encounter takes place. She realizes what she did was sinful. But more importantly she see the face of him before her and she departs with courage and confidence.
This incident in the life of Jesus teaches me that I too have need of such a face-to-face encounter with the Lord who saves and heals, who pardons and gives peace.