Fifth Sunday of Lent

March 13, 2016
     

Below you will find a reflection for today, the Fifth Sunday of Lent 2016. We encourage you to share this reflection by forwarding this email to others who you think might appreciate it.

Fifth Sunday of Lent
 
by Antonia Malone, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

"Let the one among you who is without sin, be the first to cast a stone at her." (Jn 8:7)

See I am doing something new. (Is 43:19)

This is probably one of the few stories in the lectionary where the original "Let the man among you..." may be more accurate, for surely there were no women preparing to throw stones. It was the Pharisees and the scribes who brought the woman to Jesus demanding that she be stoned as they claimed Moses commanded in the law; and, if there were women in the Temple area, they were no doubt cowering in fear, as another one of their gender was about to be subjected to the violence of the dominant patriarchy. No mention is made of the man involved, and one might have expected Jesus to note this injustice, as the Mosaic law counsels that in cases of adultery, both the man and the woman be put to death (Lev 20:10). But Jesus recognized the trap, and neatly evaded it by suggesting that the man among them who was without sin be the first to cast a stone at her. And to their faint credit, they melted away, after which Jesus also declined to condemn her. (Do I hear an echo of Pope Francis' refusal to judge?)...

To read this entire reflection, click here.

In Christ's peace,

 

Johnny Zokovitch

Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA


P.S. To see more Lenten resources from Pax Christi USA, click here.