Who Has Possession of You

~~~Fifth Sunday of Lent~~~

~~~Isaiah 43:16-21 ~~Psalm 126~~ Philippians 3:8-14~~John 8:1-11~~~

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

'...I am doing something new!'

'...I continue my pursuit in hope...

...I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.' 

Isaiah, Paul, and the psalmist are each expressing the feelings and sentiment 

of the woman in today's Gospel story.

The woman caught in adultery was violently dragged 

and thrown at the feet of Jesus.

Jesus could have joined in and condemned her along with the others;

after all if she was guilty she was a sinner.

But instead Jesus uses this opportunity to teach us 

about his capacity to forgive.

He shows us his unconditional love for this woman 

by inviting us to look at ourselves.

“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”

He gives her accusers permission to punish this woman; 

but then he does something very curious,

he looks down and begins writing in the sand.

What he wrote in the sand that day was never recorded for us to know.

Imagine the fear racing throughout this poor woman's body 

as she awaits her condemnation.

But instead not one man picks up a stone,

rather they sheepishly turn and walk away in silence.

...Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” 

This woman could sing with the psalmist...

the Lord has down great things for me...

I am filled with joy.

He did something new for her...

he forgave her instead of condemning her.

He gave her a reason to have hope once again.

Perhaps she had been hopeless by her lifestyle for many years.

Jesus did indeed take possession of her heart, mind, 

body, and soul through his loving compassion.

Jesus saved her from a painful humiliating experience.

His simple words and actions diffused the entire situation.

The woman caught in adultery was the beneficiary of God's love.

The Lord has indeed done great things for each of us.

Remember them and be filled with joy.

Go, sin no more...

continue to live in hope.

Let Christ Jesus take possession of your

 mind, body, and soul.

The Lord is kind and merciful

 and we should be also.