Reflection for Vigil of the Fifth Sunday of Lent 2010
20 March, 2010

by Micaela Randolph, OSB

The Gospel passage John gives us of the Woman caught in Adultery is a riveting scene and for me a gut-wrenching one that evokes in me many emotions. Fear that I too, like the woman, be caught in my own sins. Compassion for this poor woman. Disgust for the scribes and Pharisees who drag her before Jesus, Surprise and wonder as Jesus, after hearing the accusations, simply bends over and begins to write in the sand. Hope and wonder as Jesus stands to respond to the continued outcry of these accusers. Reflecting on this gospel scene, I am challenged to look within myself and ask, “With whom do I stand?” In the reality of my own life, there are times when I stand with this woman and there are times that I stand with her accusers.

This Gospel scene reminded me of a story written by Fr. Ed Hays, entitled: The Judgment Day. He writes

“It was the evening before April 1st and the weatherman predicted that it would be a warm and sunny day with very little possibility of rain. However, at 11:30 the next day, a gentle April shower began to fall. The sun was out; there was not a cloud in the sky, no thunder, no lightning. “A strange wonder of nature”, thought the people. They all rushed out of doors to observe this strange phenomena. They stood staring skyward as the gentle rain dampened their faces and their clothes.
Then as the rain stopped, a giant rainbow appeared in the sky and this rainbow spelled out a message in letters of blue, green, yellow, red and purple. And it read: ‘Only those free from stain of sin shall see God’. This bright message in Technicolor was terrifying in its implication. “Only those free from the stain of sin shall see God.”

As the people looked at one another, hoping for an explanation, their eyes were filled with terror for on each of their faces, the colors of the rainbow, slowly began to appear. Every sin they had ever committed could be seen on their faces in its own distinctive color. So green was for envy and jealousy, red for hate and discrimination of any kind, yellow for dishonesty and so one. This mysterious rain had caused the once invisible sins to become embarrassingly apparent. They all rushed home to wash away these blemishes. However, no amount of soap, or water, paint remover, cosmetic cream or scrubbing could remove the telltale stain of their sins. Nothing could remove the humiliating revelation of their most secret desires, their hidden thoughts. All their secrets were now public. All were reduced to the level of common sinners. All were reduced to the truth of their lives. They begin praying “Forgive us Lord, grant us your mercy!” they humbled themselves and much to their relief, their sin-stains slowly began to disappear. Marriages were saved, the poor were taken care of, children were obedient, business men and women were more honest in their practices, and neighbors began to association with one another.

The truth of our lives is that we too are all sinners and if we were rained on, we might be quite a colorful community.

The scene of this woman standing alone, embarrassed, full of shame, and accused is a very powerful scene and it would be easy to dwell there. But John is revealing to us the heart of Jesus. This Jesus, full of mercy. We are drawn to his calm, peaceful and compassionate presence. He is quiet, reflective, and wise. He knows the hearts of these Scribes and Pharisees. He knows what their motive is. He knows they want to catch him in a trap with no way out. As they accuse this woman, Jesus simply kneels down and begins writing in the sand. Upon further outcries, he stands and simply says, “The one without sin should throw the first stone”. And there was silence. The accusers had trapped themselves. They slowly walked away. And Jesus seeing that he was alone with the woman asked her, “Has no one condemned you?” and she answered, “No one, Sir” and Jesus said to her “And neither do I condemn you.. Go and sin no more.” We feel the deep mercy that Jesus has for this woman, and we know that it is for us women, too. Willingly we stand with her before Jesus, all of us sinners, and we, as she, receive this bountiful mercy of our God.

I would like to end this reflection with a poem by Jessica Powers entitled: "The Mercy of God" (page 17 in this online book).

© 2010 Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica
Atchison, Kansas