Before it is too late

There are characters that are worth reflecting upon in our Gospel for today. The character of the Woman caught in adultery and the Accusers; the Scribes and the Pharisees.

In this episode, their characters are tested and are revealed by their intentions.

First let us learn from the adulterous woman. From her we can learn that conversion is urgent. It must not be delayed.

The woman was portrayed as caught up in the situation because she was “caught in the act.” She is unwilling to be exposed and prosecuted as any other person at fault. She did not repent prior to her captivity. She repented after she was caught and was brought for trial by publicity.

Like her, we are always off-guard when it comes to the timing of the consequences of our actions. We will never know when will be the day of reckoning. Life will surprise us and it will teach us the hard way.

Before life charges us, make sure we are in-charge of our lives. Change for the better now. The time is now. Before we get caught in the act, repent now. Before we are brought to court, repent now.

This argument is best exemplified by the repentance stories in the New Testament. The Prodigal Son, the Thief beside Jesus, the Rich man in Lazarus. They all repented when it’s too late.

As the Filipino saying goes; “Nasa huli ang pagsisisi.”

Secondly, let us look at the characters of the Scribes and the Pharisees acting as judge to a trial by publicity. From them we can learn that people will always pretend to be righteous.

The accusers’ souls were exposed upon Jesus’ exclamation: “He who has no sin must cast the first stone.” Nobody threw a single stone. Not a single one. Why? Because they are at fault. Their souls are as rubbish as the woman.

The worst level of pretense is when we judge other people not minding that we too are hardened sinners in one way or the other. If Jesus puts us in the same situation where the spotless among us be the first one to punish a condemned person, we all will leave speechless. We will all drop the stones we picked up for the unscrupulous stoning.

To judge a person is not a role for us to assume. It is a role reserved for God in a trial of reckoning between the person and God himself.

Our role as a community is to be mirrors. That is to help the person see himself; his weakness, his brutality, his frailty.

Our role is not to judge. Our role is fraternal correction.

Going back to the woman, I believe that while she did not initially envisioned conversion, her encounter with Jesus made her life turn from adulterous woman into a woman of valor.

St. Augustine said after the accusers left and stones where thrown down, “all that’s left are miseria et miscericordia.” Misery of the woman and the mercy of God.

All we need is an encounter with Jesus to rectify our lives.

Jesus comforts us: “neither do I condemn you” as he is crucified:

To Murderers,

To Cheaters,

To Adulterers,

To Abortionist,

To Opportunists,

To Plunderers,

To Addicts,

To Rapists,

To Tax Evaders,

To Pedophiles,

All of them could be forgiven by God.

There are only 2 sins which cannot be forgiven. The sin of not repenting (Luke 13:3-4) and the sin of denying a known truth (C.C.C. # 2092).

God’s attitude to sinners are always two-fold. First is comfort. Second is commission. “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” The forgiveness of God is a gift and a responsibility.