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03/25/2007 |
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FR. OLMAN’S HOMILY March 25,
2007 When the
scriptures talk about a future restoration, it expresses the firm confidence of
a people in God’s promises, based on what God has actually done for them in the
past. Confidence in the future is the
best bases for wholehearted commitment now.
Today’s three readings call us to this –Jesus reveals himself as a
compassionate Lord, whose love heals. No biblical book
looks forward to the promises of the future more than the poems of Second
Isaiah, the anonymous prophet of Today’s reading
gives this theme prominence. The people
of It is
practically certain that this poignant story is not part of the Gospel of
John. This does not mean that it is
unhistorical, and unquestionably the passage is part of the New Testament. It would easily fit into the Gospel of Luke,
especially at the end of chapter 21, and should be explained in Luke’s terms
rather than John’s. The story is a
call to repentance. The woman’s
sinfulness is not in doubt, because Jesus calls for her conversion now and for
the future. Jesus saves her, whereas the
Pharisees, with their law, could only offer the most serious of
condemnations. Even Moses himself would
withhold judgment because of the malice of the witnesses. However, they show repentance themselves. They confess their guilt by walking
away. A pity that they walk away because
Jesus is there to receive their repentance as well. The event shows the constant need to turn
continually to Christ. God never
withholds his grace from us. His steadfast love and mercy is new every day.
Through the gift and grace of the Holy Spirit we can be changed and made new in
Christ. He can set us free from our unruly desires and passions. Jesus never
lost an opportunity to bring freedom to those oppressed by sin and guilt.
His frequent association with sinners, however, upset the sensibilities of the
religious leaders. When a woman caught in adultery was brought to them for
trial, they confronted Jesus on the issue of retribution. Jewish law
treated adultery as a serious crime since it violated God’s ordinance and
wreaked havoc on the stability of marriage and family life. It was one of
the three gravest sins punishable by death. This incident
tells us a great deal about Jesus’ attitude to the sinner. The scribes
and Pharisees wanted to entrap Jesus with the religious and civil authorities.
That is why they brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus. Jesus
turned the challenge towards his accusers. In effect he said: Go ahead
and stone her! But let the man who is without sin be the first to cast a
stone. The Lord leaves the matter to their own consciences. When
the adulterous woman is left alone with Jesus, he both expresses mercy and he
strongly exhorts her to not sin again. The scribes wished to condemn,
Jesus wished to forgive and to restore the sinner to health. His
challenge involved a choice-- either go back to your former way of sin and
death or to reach out to the new way of life and happiness with him.
Jesus gave her pardon and a new start on life. God’s grace enables us to
confront our sin for what it is -- unfaithfulness to God, and to turn back to
God with a repentant heart and a thankful spirit for God’s mercy and
forgiveness. Do you know the joy of repentance and a clean conscience?
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