Fifth Sunday in Lent C 2022

INTRO: When I was growing up there was an apple orchard as part of one of our neighbors’ property.

First, we kids WERE NOT ALLOWED to enter it, but we did anyway!

Second, the apples, when almost ripe, were the best for throwing at each other. A group of us boys would divide up and the battle would begin. THOSE apples HURT.

SO DUMB!!!

And in today’s GOSPEL, believe me THOSE STONES would have HURT. Fortunately, none were thrown!

I must tell you; the SCRIBES and PHARISEES were up to something in this story. They were always trying to get at JESUS. This was a set up. In reading up on this culture, the law of MOSES had a STONING LAW, but it would have involved BOTH the man and woman “caught in the act”! SO, JESUS, smart as He is, caught the setup.

Number ONE if he said STONE HER he would be in trouble with the ROMANS (they were the only ones to execute) and if he said DON’T STONE HER, he would be in trouble with the JEWS by not following MOSAIC LAW.

So, what does He do????
I told you he was smart…. He realizes ALL OF OUR humanness and sinfulness when he says:
“Let the one among you
who is without sin be the first
to throw a stone at her.”

No one of us is without sin and that is the major point for us in this story. Do not be offended that I say all of us are sinners. We are. And God does not care. Jesus loves us all when we botch up our lives with lust, lack of charity, judgmental behavior, and meanness. The Lord is ever forgiving. He does not condemn us and says GO AND SIN NO MORE!

The Deighton’s planned this Anniversary Mass so long ago, (not sure they knew that this story of the adulterous woman was going to be read???)

But they wanted their whole family to come together in this Lenten season, for Mass and they, as well as all of us, are treated with this specific story. For TOM & GINNY and every one of us here and at home KNOW the POWER OF GOD’S love in their married lives and our lives which is totally exemplified in today’s Gospel.

It is God’s love that saves them day after day, all these fifty years and will continue to save them! It is that same love that will save all of us as well.

Yes, Jesus saves us all, frees us from sin and death and keeps our hearts full of love, married or not.

CONCLUSION

Tom and Ginny will have a BIG party later, but all of us have a party right here. A party of BREAD AND WINE consecrated at this altar to nourish us in the ways of JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. Congratulations!