Scripture Note
The First Reading contains a message of hope addressed to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. There will be a new exodus, so glorious that it will put the great events of the first exodus in the shade. And all of this will happen because God is faithful to his people.
This prepares us for the Gospel. Christians see the radically new thing that God has done for us in and through Jesus. Specifically we see God’s love and compassion in Jesus’ treatment of a sinful woman. The story is taken from John, but it resembles the style of Luke. It’s an ‘entrapment’ story which sought to show Jesus’ wisdom in besting his adversaries.
The aim of the Scribes and Pharisees was to set a snare for Jesus. If he pardoned the woman, he could be accused of encouraging people to break the law of Moses. If he agreed that she should be stoned, he would lose his name for mercy. But Jesus turned the tables on her accusers by suggesting that they look at their own sins.
Paul has willingly sacrificed everything for the justification that comes from faith in Christ, and for the hope of resurrection. (Second Reading). Like a runner at the final stage of a race, he doesn’t look back but keeps his eye on the winning tape.
(from New Sunday & Holy Day Liturgies, Flor McCarthy, SDB)
