Beginning from the third Sunday of Lent the themes of the liturgy have been related to conversion and repentance. "Unless you repent, you shall perish" was the message of the third Sunday. In the fourth Sunday of Lent, the theme of joy at a sinner's return was highlighted. There, the prodigal son returned home after realizing that it is better to be with the Father than away from Him. This fifth Sunday, we are given the image of a woman caught in adultery and the people who use her to entrap the Lord. To both the women and the men, the Lord stood as the Truth that reveals the malice in the hearts of the men on the one hand, and the Truth who frees the woman from her life of sin.
Read the relevant article here and use the following as your guide.
1. "Go and sin no more" said the Lord to the woman caught in adultery. He did not condone the sin, and he wanted her to be freed from it.
Reflect. In a related text, Paul tells the Galatians that they have been freed by the blood of Christ for freedom.
For freedom Christ has set us free;
so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
(Gal. 5:1)
How do you value the freedom from sin that we received from Christ in baptism?
2. In the same chapter as the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus tells the Jews:
If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples
and you will know the truth,
and the truth shall set you free (Jn. 8:31-32)
The Lord will later on reveal himself to the disciples as "the Way, the Truth and the Life." He is the Word of God which is the way to God, the Truth that reveals the meaning of all, and the Light that gives Life. The Truth frees one from the Lie that shrouds the mind and keeps one from clinging to the Supreme Good which is God. Where Truth is absent, even something good -- such as the Law -- becomes an instrument of malice.
When the Lord said that those who have no sin should throw the first stone, he made those eager for the penalty of death to look at themselves instead of at the woman. And the truth that they all shared in the same penalty made them drop their stones and leave.
Reflect. During this season of Lent, have you been examining your conscience? The Lord reveals us to ourselves. Have you spent some time before the Blessed Sacrament and give yourself an honest look, to see how much you have grown in your baptismal life or not?
3. "Go and sin no more" can also be translated "God and leave the life of sin." The woman caught in adultery was embracing a lie. She was caught, but most of us are not.
Reflect. Have you considered the possibility that you may not have grown in Christian maturity because of a lie you embrace?
