Go, sin no more

THERE’S an amusing story in the episode of the adulterous woman of today’s gospel. When Jesus said in defense of the woman against her accusers: “He who has no sin among you let him cast the first stone,” there was a cold silence. The silence was broken when a stone was thrown in the direction of the woman.

Jesus looked up on the hill and his face turned red. It was his mother who did it. Jesus smiling, said, “Mama, you’re not included here!” (Indeed, Mary is the only sinless among all creatures).

Going back to the episode about the adulterous woman who was reportedly caught “in the very act of adultery,” how did the sanctimonious accusers manage to catch her? They must have been a bunch of “peeping Toms.”

Moreover, the question comes to mind: “Why is only the woman condemned? Where’s the man!” Isn’t that a glaring gender discrimination and stark injustice?

The legal experts and pious religious leaders were challenging Jesus to hand down his verdict. The truth of the matter is that it was a well-laid-out trap.

Whichever opinion he volunteered, he would be caught in the dilemma. If he recommended leniency, he would break the law of Moses which meted death by stoning to such public sinners. If he acceded to the Mosaic law of death penalty, he would be branded as a double-talking teacher who preached forgiveness but did not practice it.

The scribes and Pharisees relished the thought that they would at last snare Jesus in their trap. But knowing their wicked intention, Jesus did not say a word. Instead he stooped down and scribbled on the ground with his finger. (Incidentally, this is the first recorded instance that our Lord ever wrote).

Biblical scholars speculate that he scribbled the sins of the woman’s accusers. It was a face-saving device for her tormentors to “get lost” as the Lord challenged them: “He who has no sin among you, let him cast the first stone.”

It was an impressive way to cut down the self-righteous hypocrites and masterfully escape the entrapment laid out by the scheming Pharisees.

LESSONS. One important lesson we can learn from the gospel story concerns judging others. Deep inside we may, indeed, condemn the way the scribes and Pharisees treated the poor woman in the gospel but are we not much like them at times?

For instance, we are guilty of pharisaism when we look down on “public” sinners (“mababang uri”) or talk about the faults of others, or about broken marriages of relatives and neighbors. Subconsciously, we pat our back and say, “Thank God I’m not like them.”

Another lesson we can learn is the hope and joy that it is an understanding God who will judge us eventually and not one of our fellow human beings who are much too quick to condemn.

One final lesson is that God’s infinite mercy should not induce us to be indifferent or careless about sin in our lives.

Some might think that since God is so kind and forgiving, this gives us “license” to go on committing sin. Remember Christ’s words to the woman: “GO AND SIN NO MORE.” Rather, it should make us realize the need for sincere repentance, to which we are called-especially in this season of Lent.

‘7 LAST WORDS’ APPEAL. The SVD Mission Communications Foundation, Inc., will air the “7 Last Words” on Good Friday, April 19, at 12:00 nn to 3:00 p.m. over ABS-CBN Channel 2 at the Jesus the Divine Word Shrine at Christ the King Seminary compound.

The three-hour TV presentation entails a considerable expenditure. For this, may we appeal for donations from generous readers to augment our limited budget.

We will acknowledge in the TV billboard the names of all our sponsors and donors. Above all, we will include them in our special prayers on Holy Week.

For further inquiry, call Bjay de Castro on telephones 7233343; 7258981 loc. 236 or e-mail me at: belsvd@gmail.com.