5th
Sunday of Lent
Cycle C
Saint Margaret Parish
March 17, 2013 4pm and 7:30am
Put It Back Together
There
is a story about a surgeon and his wife who were invited to dinner at the home
of friends.
The
surgeon was enjoying a drink in the kitchen while his host was getting ready to
carve the roast beef. The friend asked, “Would you like to do the honors, Doc?”
The
surgeon politely declined. The friend
began carving the roast, and then teased, “So
how’s my technique, Doc?
“I think I’d make a pretty good
surgeon. See, it’s all in the wrist.
“You know, I might take your job.” The doctor was
used to this kind of humor and just laughed.
Soon
the host finished his work and held up a tray of beautifully carved roast
beef. “So, what d’ya think, Doc?”
The
surgeon replied, “Not bad. But now – let’s see you put it all back
together.”
Jesus Puts It Back Together
Jesus
does not put a roast beef back together, but in a different way, he does what
the surgeon asks his friend to do.
In
today’s gospel, some men bring a woman to Jesus. They accuse her of a great sin and ask Jesus
if it’s okay to stone her to death.
That’s
what the religious law says to do.
Jesus’ response is very instructive.
The Group of Men
At
first, Jesus looks down, is silent and says nothing – definitely not getting
caught up in the frenzy of the group.
Eventually,
Jesus looks up at the men who want to stone the woman and says, “Let the one without sin throw the first
stone.” So he doesn’t really answer
their question.
Jesus
doesn’t affirm them or put them down.
But he does lead them to look within themselves.
Jesus
leads them to look within at their own humanity and sinfulness. In doing this, Jesus recognizes the reality
of sin.
The
truth is that we all sin as human beings.
We can sin against ourselves by abusing alcohol or over-eating.
We
can sin against our relationship with God by not praying or not coming to
Mass. And we can sin against others, in
this instance, by being self-righteous, hateful, and unforgiving.
Jesus
doesn’t resort to any kind of violence, much less physical violence. He does not throw verbal or moral stones at
this group of men.
Instead,
he leads them to look within and get in touch with their own sinfulness. And with that, their hateful and violent spirit
dissipates and they go off.
So,
Jesus has recognized sin in each of them.
And he has also taught them a non-violent, peaceful, respectful way of
dealing with others who have sinned.
The Woman
Then
Jesus turns to the woman.
He
simply asks her, “Has no one condemned
you?” “No one, Sir.”
“Then, neither do I condemn you. Go now and do not sin any more.”
In
effect, Jesus responds to her just as he has to the group of men. He recognizes that she has sinned.
In
this instance, her sin is adultery – a sin against sexual morality. Jesus affirms the commandment and provides
the basis for the teaching that continues to today.
Our
sexual expression is a very significant giving of ourselves. It is to convey a commitment that is lasting
and exclusive.
And
so, it is to be reserved for husband and wife in marriage. So, Jesus leads this woman, as he leads the
men, to look within herself and acknowledge her sin.
He
is not violent. He does not throw verbal
or moral stones at her.
Instead,
he respectfully and peacefully exhorts her not to sin anymore. And this woman, like the group of men, is
able to go off with her self-respect intact.
Jesus Puts Them Back Together
So Jesus does not put back together the sliced roast beef.
But he does put persons back together – the group of men and this
woman. How he does this is a great model
for how we are to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and how we are to
relate to one another.
