Fifth Sunday of Lent [C]
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT [C]
Jesus wins a reprieve for the woman caught in adultery. He sends her on her way with the words: “sin no more” (John 8:11). Does she comply? We don’t know. But let’s suppose that she does comply; she takes the message to heart. What will this signify? As far as St. Paul is concerned, this signifies a type of liberation. She’s no longer carrying the burden of sin. Now she can run freely. In pursuit of what? Paul refers to it as “the finish line” (Phil. 3:14, original NAB translation). It’s “the prize” (revised NAB translation). In other words, it’s something very desirable, something appealing. It’s appealing in the same way that a river would hold appeal for someone journeying in the desert (see Isaiah 43:16-19). Isaiah looks forward to the day when God will transform the desert into a place of vitality. A river will be released, providing satisfaction for those who are in need of refreshment. God has had enough of the old; now a new plan will be unfolding.
Imagine the interior life of the woman featured in John chapter eight. She’s experiencing a new beginning, a new set of circumstances. Her state of sin has been removed. She is no longer encumbered; it is time to open up at full stride. We can fit her story within the framework of another story. This story involves three travelers. They’re resting under the shade of an acacia tree. While they are gathered together, they begin to compare notes. The first traveler points to his bushel basket, explaining that this is where he stores all of his negative baggage: the grief, the regret, the shame, the guilt, the remorse, the mistakes. It’s all carried within the basket. The weight of the basket causes him to lean forward, and that happens to be his objective. He wants to move in a forward direction. And yet, he frequently becomes distracted. When glancing down, his attention ends up being trained on the contents of the basket. Instead of forging ahead, he pauses—and he obsesses.
Traveler number two then speaks up, recommending the use of a backpack. With the backpack, it’s all kept out of view. You’re less likely to be absorbed by the regrets, the remorse, the guilt, the shame, the mistakes. The burden is not being held in front of you; rather, it’s hanging on your back. Nevertheless, he has to admit that the weight does pull him backwards. Therefore, he describes it as a good approach, even if it’s not a perfect approach. At this, the third traveler acknowledges that he has been using the very same strategy. However, in his case, he’s benefiting from a piece of advice passed along to him by a wise old hermit. If you cut an opening in the bottom of the pack, then whatever goes in will subsequently be emptied out. You’re not of a superior character. You’re plagued by the same quantity of regrets and mistakes. The only difference is that you’ve discovered how to be relieved of your burden.
Essentially, we are talking here about the subject of liberation. We could say that the woman from John chapter eight now has an opening in her backpack. Call it an advantage. Or better yet, call it a blessing. How does it all come about? It’s all made possible by the fact that she has had an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ—more specifically, a MEANINGFUL encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.
