Is. 43: 16-21, Phil. 3: 8-14 and John8:1-11
1. I’ll bet we all have done a STUPID, HURTFUL or SINFUL thing or two in life. The Questions I want you to answer is: How did the consequences of those actions subsequently play out? Years ago, when I was in the sixth grade here at Blessed Sacrament, the people in the band came over to the Church basement to practice under Mr. Hopkins the Heelan band teacher. One of my VERY GOOD friends, whose name was Larry, and was sitting next to me, stood up to play his drum. I for some unknown reason and in a very uncharacteristic move, pushed his chair back with out him knowing it. Well you can easily imagine what happened next. He went to sit back down, only to fall to the ground, hitting his head on the drum and chair and bruising his hinny. I can remember the GLARE of Mr. Hopkins, the MOANS of my friend Larry, and THINKING of how I wish I could have that moment back. All the while I was waiting for Mr. Hopkins (who literally was Judge, Jury and Executioner) to drop the heavy punishment bomb on me. After all, I deserved it. As it turned out, maybe because of some strain of FILIAL CARE or or recollection of PERSONAL GUILT, he only asked me to help Larry up, apologize and don’t ever do it again. That whole event left a profound mark on my life.
2. The Old Testament reading is from Isaiah chapter 43. In this chapter, God is portrayed as a concerned blood relative. He is calling TENDERLY to His exiled Kinsman, in Babylon, who are dealing with consequences of their sins. He CARES for them. He is the one who CREATED them, FORMED them and NAMED them. He is the one who KNEW them and UNDERSTOOD them. In His love for them, He was now announcing through His prophet, that in the near future, His intention is to REDEEM and RESTORE His beloved children. In both poetic form and theological treatment, He reminds the people of the 1st great Exodus from Egypt. For it was in great signs and wonder that He carried them out of Slavery. Now soon, He will again lead His people out of Captivity in another show of love in an even greater Exodus, back to Israel. He will GATHER them all, RETRIEVE their land and REBUILD their lives. This LIBERATION is near at hand.
During Lent the Church uses Isaiah chapter 43, to help us to prepare for the GREAT events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is these events that SET US FREE from slavery resulting from sin. They also RAISE US UP to be sons of God and heirs to the eternal kingdom of heaven. It was this Freedom and Kinship that were foreshadowed in the liberation of the Chosen People, first from EGYPT and later from BABYLONIA in the Old Testament.
3. The Gospel speaks to us in a similar caring and understanding tone that Isaiah 43 did to the exiled Jews. This incident of the merciful forgiveness of an adulteress by the Son of God, set her FREE to live again. You must remember she was about to be stoned to death. This story has three important lessons for us in this season of Lent.
The law of Moses called for STERN and SWIFT punishments for serious sins. Adultery was one of them. But Jesus, in His ministry, echoed that same message of Forgiveness and Restoration that Isaiah 43 called for. In doing that, He became a big adversary to the Scribes and Pharisees, who were blinded to the truth, by their pride and desire to hold their version of God’s Justice and Mercy for others, in their hands. Jewish law (Deut 17:7) said and Jesus reminded us all, that the one who accuses, bears a great responsibility for the one put to death. So Jesus when he said, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”, he made sure the accusers judged them selves first. Maybe Jesus was writing the sins of each Accuser in the sand, we don’t know, but for sure in those long pregnant pauses, those who were the accusers learned Lesson #1: We ALL HAVE SINNED.
Then in Jesus’ final words, “Has no one condemned you? Neither do I, Go and sin no more”, Jesus makes sure we all know, that He too is not among those who accuse. His purpose, like the caring kinsman in Isaiah 43, is to provide Redemption and Restoration. He will work to GATHER us all together. He will work to RETRIEVE our promised land and to REBUILD our lives forever in heaven. On account of such great love, we have Lessons #2 and #3: We MUST FORGIVE OTHERS and We MUST TRY TO SIN NO MORE.
4. Do you see what happened? Fred, the Israelites and the Adulterous Woman, we all got FREE PASSES! We got to start over! We all offend the good God in many ways. But, thank God, while we may have to deal with the judgments and sentences of people here on earth, ultimately we only answer to God. In His mercy, God knows and understands our frailties. No matter HOW MANY and HOW SERIOUS our sins may be, the forgiveness of God is given first and we only need to respond with GOODNESS from there on.
5. I am sure Larry forgave me that day. We ran around together for a long time after. And for sure, I know that I have never since pushed some ones chair out from behind them.
Now, for all the other Stupid, Hurtful, sinful things that I have, …that we have done, I hope we all have availed ourselves of meeting Jesus face to face in the Sacrament of Confession to hear those wonderful words…”nor do I condemn you. Now Go, and Sin no More.” What a feeling FREEDOM is after doing something STUPID or SINFUL.
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