From the Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, Fifth Sunday of Lent, 2007
“The two were left alone, the wretched woman and Mercy.” ~ St. Augustine
“Today’s Gospel passage recounts the episode of the adulterous woman… we witness a dispute between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees concerning a woman caught in flagrant adultery… The pitiless accusers of the woman, citing the law of Moses, provoke Jesus… asking him whether it would be right to stone her. They were aware of his mercy and his love for sinners and were curious to see how he would manage in such a case which, according to Mosaic law, was crystal clear. But Jesus immediately took the side of the woman… He wrote mysterious words on the ground… and Jesus then spoke the sentence that was to become famous: “Let him who is without sin among you… be the first to throw a stone at her”...
The accusers who had wished to provoke Jesus went away one by one... When they had all left, the divine Teacher remained alone with the woman. Let us… contemplate this scene where the wretchedness of man and Divine Mercy come face to face... The One who had bent down to write in the dust, now raised his eyes and… asked the woman: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again”…
… Jesus does not enter into a theoretical discussion… his goal is to save a soul and reveal that salvation is only found in God’s love... Jesus came to tell us that he wants us all in Paradise and that hell, about which little is said in our time, exists and is eternal for those who close their hearts to his love.
…Jesus… forgives her so that “from now on” she will sin no more… only divine forgiveness and divine love received with an open and sincere heart give us the strength to resist evil and… to let ourselves be struck by God’s love so that it becomes our strength…
Dear brothers and sisters… God never abandons us and …His love is a source of joy and peace; it is a powerful force that impels us on the path of holiness, if necessary even to martyrdom.”
Comments
Post a Comment