Gospel Reflection - 5th Sunday of Lent, Year C

 

When we were younger, my siblings and I excelled in the art of tattletaling.  One instance (which I will never live down) was when I attempted to slap my older brother.  He was being annoying, so naturally I wanted to hit him.  Foreseeing my action, he raised his hand and turned my strike into a high-five.  I ran to Mom in order to “tell on” him, but realized too late how pathetic my case looked.  “Mom, I tried to hit Sam, but he just gave me a high-five!”  Guess who got the scolding?  I’ll give you a hint.  It wasn’t my brother.

You could say that the scribes and Pharisees were playing their own game of tattletale, only with a more devious motive.  They weren’t really interested in the adulterous woman.  They were more occupied with catching Jesus.  One statement contradicting the law was all they needed in order to silence Him.  Presenting Him with the adulterous woman was the perfect opportunity.  

It’s important to recall that the Lord always knows our motives.  Even when we don’t completely understand them ourselves, He has perfect knowledge of our innermost being.  Our own motives are often narrow minded, as we only see things in part; but God sees the entire picture.  Furthermore, in His infinite goodness, He desires the little pieces we see to be oriented toward the whole of a picture which depicts our eternal joy and salvation in a life lived with Him.

Jesus didn’t just save the adulterous woman from being stoned to death.  He also saved the scribes and Pharisees from acting on a bad ulterior motive.  Similarly, through the Holy Spirit, we too are diverted from inferior motives, sinful inclinations, and imperfections.  Especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope, we as Catholics can find tremendous consolation knowing that we do not have to traverse this life alone.  Like the adulterous woman, as well as the scribes and Pharisees, we have a Lord Who knows us, loves us, and saves us.


When in your life have you been prompted by the Holy Spirit to act upon grace?


Where in your life can you adopt a greater sense of hope?

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