Could we cast the first stone? Today’s reflection shows us that Jesus’ radically new teachings call us to examine our own souls before condemning others, and challenge us to reorient ourselves towards God.

April 6, 2025: Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year C
Isaiah 43:16–21
Psalm 126:1–6
Philippians 3:8–4
John 8:1–11

Doing Something New

A reflection by David Jackson

Today’s Gospel passage begins with Jesus on the move–first to the Mount of Olives, then to the temple area. A large group gathers around Christ: the scribes and Pharisees, a woman accused of adultery, the elders, and others who wished to hear him speak.

As Jesus is teaching, the scribes and Pharisees self-righteously bring the woman accused of adultery forward to him, so that he might judge what to do with her. She is brought alone, ignoring the Law, which condemns both parties. They are looking for some charge to bring against him, hoping to find some charge that they might bring against this radical and disruptive preacher.

They give him a test: "So what do you say?" The hypocrisy is thick, and the injustice is evident–in setting this trap against him, the Pharisees and scribes have gone against the very Law they cite, the cornerstone of their lives. Jesus, knowing their intent, would have none of it. He refused to play their game; his response was to bend down and write with his finger on the ground.

But despite his obvious disinterest in their clamoring, they continued asking him to pass judgement. He straightened up and said: "Let the person among you who is without sin throw the first stone at her" (Jn. 8:7). Instead of condemning the woman according to the Law, or speaking against it as the scribes and Pharisees expected, he does something altogether different. In doing so, Jesus not only confronted the scribes and Pharisees; he also stood up against the social structures, legal disparities and cultural norms that would shield a man but stone a woman. It is as if he spoke the words found in today’s reading from Isaiah 43:18–19: “Forget the events of the past, ignore the things of long ago! Look, I am doing something new!” He reorients the conversation entirely, reminding the accusers that they should be looking inward at their own souls, and pointing them towards God.

Then, for a second time, Jesus bends down and writes on the ground. He waits them out in silence, forcing them to confront their consciences: they condemn, but were their actions truly without fault? Evidently, this confounds them–they have come to find fault with another, but they are instead faced with their own flaws. Those who are obsessed with the letter of the Law have forgotten its spirit, its greatest commandment: to love God and to love one’s neighbor as one’s self. Having faced this truth in uncomfortable silence, their response is to go away one by one, beginning with the elders. Jesus is left alone with the woman, whom he sends away to sin no more.

It’s easy to cast others as scribes and Pharisees; in such a politically charged world, there are likely people that spring to mind when you read this passage. But we, much like the Pharisees, must confront the state of our souls. Are we accusing others without examining our own conscience? Are we engaging with others simply to “win” a debate and feel powerful, or to love our neighbor and make a positive change in the world? We cannot simply stand by and accept injustice, but the posture of our heart matters.

These readings challenge us to be truthful in our hearts and minds so that we might overcome the temptation to condemn others for our own gain and satisfaction, and remain focused on our ultimate end. We must be like Christ, focused only on showing God’s love in the world, and like St. Paul, who says: “I give no thought to what lies behind, but I push on to what is ahead. My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize — the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13–14).

For Reflection:

                             
• Who are those we shield and those we stone in today’s world?
                             
• What legal disparities, social structures, and cultural norms affect the poor and protect the rich?
                             
• How can we work to overcome these disparities without resorting to uncharitable rhetoric?
                             
• Are there any areas in our lives where we have prioritized the letter of the law over love and mercy?
                             

As a Catholic priest for 48 years David Jackson preached on most Sundays. Binding the Strongman: A Political Reading of Mark's Story by Ched Myers has been his go to for Cycle B, Mark. His love of Scripture led him to pursue an M.A. from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. For the past 16 years, he has sent out homily reflections to friends. For the last two years these reflections have also been available on Roman Catholic Women Priests Canada's bimonthly newsletter. Since he discovered Catholic Women Preach, that web site is part of his weekly preparation. At 82 years of age, he has been married for the last ten years to the love of his life, Alva. In March he published his first book, Jesus Gardens Me, available on Amazon.          

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