Fifth Sunday of Lent Cycle C
Exodus 3:1–8a, 13–15
Psalm 103:1–2, 3–4, 6–7, 8, 11
1 Corinthians 10:1–6, 10–12
Luke 13:1–9
The Fifth Sunday of Lent brings us into a heightened moment of Jesus’ encounter with the authorities who are hostile toward Him. They seek a reason to condemn Him and to undermine the effect He has on the people.
The Gospel of John offers us the poignant scene of Jesus showing mercy to a woman who has been condemned by the leaders of the people.
In encounters such as this, Jesus always shows great wisdom as He reframes the matter placed before Him. Like Solomon, He calls on the accusers to respond in a way that reveals their insincerity. They place before Jesus the dilemma that is bound to “convict” Him whichever direction He chooses.
If Jesus agrees with the judgment of death according to their interpretation of the Torah, He goes against the Roman law that does not allow local authorities to execute this judgment. If He disagrees with the judgment, then He can be accused of blasphemy against the law of Moses and lose His influence with the people who are beginning to see Him as someone important.
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” This simple statement, made after Jesus has been “writing on the ground” with his finger, serves to turn the accusers from the scene.
Many speculate concerning what Jesus was writing. Some see a parallel with the writing of the law by the “finger of God” on Mount Sinai. Others wonder whether Jesus was writing the names of the accusers and their sins.
Another parallel that makes sense is the account in the book of Daniel of the judgment against King Belshazzar by the handwriting on a wall: “Mene Tekel Peres.” (Daniel 5:25) The interpretation of these words is given by Daniel, who in an earlier account, as a young boy, saved Susanna from false accusations by elders of the people in exile.
Jesus could have written these words as a silent judgment against the accusers. Those who read them would see the connection with their challenge. In the end, Jesus releases the woman from judgment, challenging her not to repeat the sin. Jesus thus meets the challenge brought to Him and settles the dilemma on the side of mercy.
As we continue our journey in life, we are often confronted by situations where there seems to be a desire for a “simple answer” to a complex problem. Humans want “easy outs” from dilemmas that weigh heavily on them.
Isaiah’s poem about the Lord’s action on behalf of His people, opening a “way” through the sea and across the desert, invites a spirit of hope in the face of past troubles. We know that our God can create something new. God Himself invites us to search for it. “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
St. Paul offers us the attitude that we must have to face the troubles we encounter. “I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.”
In the days ahead, we will follow Jesus along the path of the Passion, entering once again into our annual celebration of the Paschal Mystery. May we see all things through the eyes of mercy, and may we keep from judging others or even ourselves as we await the salvation that has already been won for us by Jesus Christ.
Let us join together with a cry of the heart: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” God makes all things new through Jesus Christ.
Alternate readings for the Third Scrutiny Year A:
Ezekiel 37:12-14
Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Romans 8:8-11
John 11:1-45
The Year A readings, used at Masses when the Third Scrutiny is prayed over the catechumens who are part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, reveal God’s power over life and death. Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life, and our response to Him in faith opens us to see Him for Who He is.