Gospel Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Lent

13th March: ‘I don’t condemn or judge you’

The gospel called ‘The woman caught in adultery’ is one of the most powerful encounters anyone has with Jesus. The men drag this woman along the streets and throw her at the feet of Jesus. Can we even imagine how they have made her feel? How afraid, fragile and vulnerable is she? All she sees in their eyes is contempt and hatred, all she hears in their voices is anger and condemnation. They stand over her with rage in their hearts and stones in their hands. They demand that Jesus too accuses and condemns her. However, Jesus remains unmoved by their viciousness, and instead he asks them a question, ‘have none of you never sinned? If so, go ahead, throw a stone’. Realising that they are now the focus of attention and aware of their own failures, they drop their stones and walk away silently. Can we imagine how they now feel? Then Jesus turns his tender attention to the woman. We can imagine him holding out his hand to her as he lifts and raises her up. In his voice and eyes she sees only love and compassion. He doesn’t accuse, condemn, judge or criticise her, but does encourage her not to sin again. Whatever image we have of Jesus, we could sit with this very forgiving Jesus as he neither condemns nor dismisses us when we fail and make mistakes, but does encourage us to do our best and not sin again.