Homily, April 6, 2025
From The Pastor
What are the readings really about today? What would you hope to take away from today’s Word? For some, the sin of the woman could be the focal point. The sixth commandment is clear and obvious: thou shalt not commit adultery. Technically, the religious leaders were well within their rights to expose the sin of the woman; knowingly aware but not bothering to mention that it takes two.
Is the gospel about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who in their deception are not concerned about the Law or God who commanded it, but are intentionally trying to trip up Jesus to sully his reputation? This appears to be the focus for Jesus who intentionally gives the accusers ample time to ponder their actions and the possible consequences.
The attentive reader might see that the readings are about the endless action of God to heal, forgive, and offer mercy to inspire hope. Each of the preceding points is present and credible. Placed in the heart of the Lenten season, what might be the takeaway for you today?
Lent calls us to see God, others, and ourselves in a new way; to see in the day-to-day how God is or is not evident in the rhythms of our lives. On the long journey from slavery in Egypt to a new life in the Promised Land, God is actively transforming the people into His own. Two weeks ago, we heard that God lifted the reproach of the Egyptians from the Israelites. They are now forgiven and called to leave that negative history in the past. God was calling them to begin a new story. ‘Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider no longer; see I am doing something new!’
This is the new frame we are invited to see in the Lenten season. God has a new way for us, personally and collectively as his people. It must begin with each of us from our own hearts. Are we able to open ourselves to a new way of faithfully preparing to profess again our faith in God and Christ through life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus? We will be called to reject sin, Satan, and the evil of his lies, deception, and manipulation that create chaos and confusion. This is what these weeks of reflection are leading us too.
The invitation is to look forward and not behind. To look and act into a future of renewed faith that allows a new frame of understanding in the ways of God through Jesus and the gospel life he lived. It is dangerous to live in the past. It misses the freedom promised in the mercy of Jesus. Unresolved, repressed, or unforgiven hurts and losses will only resurface in unwanted words, actions, and attitudes.
Notice how effectively Jesus transforms an ugly and tormenting scene. It is evident and notable that Jesus is patient and compassionate with sinners offering ready forgiveness in the hope of a new beginning. What Jesus is less tolerant of and what raises great ire in the Lord is hypocrisy; two faced judgements and presumed superiority over others. In a subtle but effective way, Jesus holds a mirror up to the religious leaders that they may see the error of their ways. Jesus is also letting them know that he knows what they are trying to do.
These leaders put themselves above the Law yet cast it heavily upon others. The Mosaic Law provided for the stoning of women known to commit adultery. What they fail to say is that it also included the stoning of the man. Jesus would not stand for the false face of their deception to get at him through the injustice they ploy against the woman. Jesus is not condoning adultery yet even more sharply he will not allow the false accusations in the hypocrisy of the self-righteous.
This is an important part of these readings. Why? Because they point us to the new thing God is doing in the gift of the Lord Jesus. In Christ, we are given hope and mercy that despite our sins and failures we can be forgiven and counted among the Kingdom of God. In wearing a false face, not being honest with ourselves or others, we will have a harder time seeing our need for the mercy God so generously offers us. Who gets to heaven without the mercy of God? No one.
Are we who we say we are as we profess Christ and the Christian gospel? Remember it is called Good News. Find your hope. Accept mercy so you can become mercy for others. Start with yourself. Are you divided on the inside holding onto things of the past? With hope and trust give them to Jesus. Does your inside and outside match? Does your face and words say one thing while your heart is saying or feeling something else? In this kind of division, hope will not be found. Like the Israelites, our exodus is the journey from the slavery of sin to freedom and new hope in the Lord Jesus. Self-honesty and acceptance will make the face of God and the presence of Jesus much easier to know, love, and trust. God forgives. Hiding behind a mask makes it hard to see.
Father John Esper
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