Weekly Homily
“Jesus said, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’” (John 8:7)
“SOUL-SURFING” – March 21, 2010
Fifth Sunday of Lent
John 8:1-11
Fr. Robert deLeon, CSC
One theme of the gospel passage we hear today is, perhaps, best captured by a single sentence of admonition spoken by Jesus to his followers: “Nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17) Even more simply put: with God there are no secrets. It’s a message both refreshing and scary as heck!
Consider a recent story from the Washington Post that offers us a gentle introduction to today’s gospel. The newspaper story may serve to guide us into a more challengingly personal consideration of what lies hidden deep within the heart of each of us.
“Soon after becoming president of Catholic University, Rev. David M. O'Connell went in search of paper towels in his bathroom cabinet. Something on the bottom shelf caught his eye. Under a pile of junk, he found an old frame. In the frame was a tiny etching of an old man with an unruly beard and billowing hat, composed of thousands of fine lines. His eyes are tired. His head nods toward his chest. The piece is signed ‘Rembrandt.’
“A dozen years passed, and [O'Connell] never investigated whether the etching was truly created by the famous 17th-century Dutch painter and printmaker Rembrandt Van Rijn. Then about a year ago, he called the university's archivist to his home and presented her with the mystery.
“‘We saw his name twice on the piece, but we still couldn't believe that's what this was,’ said Leslie Knoblauch, the school's records management archivist. ‘Who finds a Rembrandt randomly in [his] home?’ Knoblauch took the piece to her office, called an appraiser and sent him photos of the piece. He reported back that O'Connell's find was, indeed, a Rembrandt.” (“Washington Post,” January 13, 2010)
Yes, the wisdom of scripture is affirmed by the serendipitous find rescued from the bathroom cabinet of the president of Catholic University. Just like Jesus said, “Nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17) And while discoveries like that reported by the Washington Post are termed fortuitous, such revelations of what lies hidden within the human heart are more apt to inspire awe and, often, shame. It’s certainly what happened in the gospel passage we hear today.
Once again we come upon the plotting of the scribes and Pharisees as they attempt to entrap Jesus in committing a crime for which they can justly have him killed. This time they confront him with a woman caught in adultery. They think they’ve got him now. Should Jesus condemn her to death, he’s contradicted his own preaching of forgiveness. Should he judge her innocent, he’s in direct defiance of Jewish law. But, as we know, Jesus turns the tables, insisting that these self-righteous men first judge themselves before carrying out the lawful punishment for one caught in adultery. Then Jesus said, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7) And, of course, each man, looking into his own heart, saw revealed his own sinfulness.
Judging others seems to come so naturally to us. We seem born with a propensity for spotting sin in others -- while remaining completely blind to our own sinfulness. I guess it’s just a predisposition of the human condition. Blame it on genetics or that old-time concept of original sin. It’s all the same thing. Jesus said to love one another, but we generally find it so much easier (and even more fun) to judge one another. Then we hear today’s admonition addressed not only to the scribes and Pharisees but to us: “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
An American Indian legend illustrates the intense internal struggle that goes on within each of us. “One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil: it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other Good: it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’ The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, ‘Which wolf wins?’ The old Cherokee replied simply, ‘The one you feed.’" (Original source unknown)
I’m guessing that for many of us it is so much easier to feed the evil wolf. It just seems to come so naturally. But Jesus today insists that we not give in to this natural inclination. Fight the internal battle, says Jesus. Determine to do the good. For truly, “Nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17)
The woman caught in adultery by the scribes and Pharisees stood before Jesus. She was guilty of the crime. And Jesus knew it. Yet, he could see so much more in her: the kindnesses of her past life, her potential for goodness that yet lay dormant. Jesus knew of what love this woman was capable. And seeing this, he forgave her sin and called her to live anew.
And so God does for us. Surely does he see our sins, but his vision encompasses the entirety of our lives, our past, our present and our future. Indeed, he knows of what goodness we are capable. He knows what grace will be ours when at some future time we’re called to a love so selfless as to be beyond present imagination. Yes, God sees what lies hidden. His forgiveness comes quickly. His powerful grace to do good even quicker.