Powerful is the Soft Voice

Sunday Gospel Reflection
Fifth Sunday of Lent
John 8: 1-11 | April 3, 2022

Powerful is the Soft Voice
by Carlo Dureza

This is today’s gospel story: Jesus was teaching in the temple courts when a woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Him. He was expected to pronounce judgement over her. The community elders, teachers of the law, and the scribes kept a close watch on Jesus to see how he would handle the situation, particularly that of interpreting the Mosaic law on adultery.

The law provides that a woman caught in adultery must be stoned to death. Jesus however did not mete the rightful sanction on the woman. Instead, he responded with a terse remark that intended to appeal to our sense of humaneness: “let anyone who has no sin cast the first stone at her”.

As humans, we would always carry the sting and embody the stain of sin. This is our real nature, the very truth of our being. We judge others who have the very same propensity as us to grow weak, do wrong, and fall hard to the wiles of the enemy. If we are no better and do not stand taller than others because of our brokenness, then we do not have the right to speak ill of them or to judge them.

When Jesus threw a challenge to the crowd that those who think they have no sin cast the first stone to start punishing the adulterous woman, nobody dared to take that challenge. One by one, people turned away. This indicates an open admission that all realize they are sinners and that they cannot deny or contradict this!

This is the most amazing part of the gospel story: when everyone accusing the woman of having sinned according to the law backtracked and deliberately refused to stone the sinner. Such willful desistance could be attributed to a lingering soft but powerful voice within themselves, prodding them to look deeper into their hearts to see how much of a sinner they are.

In the end, it was God’s forgiving power that delivered the woman but equally powerful was that soft inner voice tugging from within lost souls who were quick to judge a needy child of God. Indeed, conscience is powerful. It is the Lord’s presence in us, ordering our steps, enlightening our choices, and leading us towards the right ways.

We can never deny or suppress our own conscience because this ignites our very nature before God—our sinfulness. Once our conscience prevails, we are bound to get attuned to our nature and to follow God’s will. Loving others, however sinful they are, is His will.

While the Pharisees, elders, and Mosaic law experts upheld strict compliance with the law to enforce justice, it was God’s law of love that enabled salvation for the adulterous woman. This law stems from a heart moved by forgiveness, compassion, and love. No law is greater than our Lord.

Happy Sunday! God bless!! 😊

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