Fifth Sunday of Lent

They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.  So what do you say?” (Jn 8:4-5). Such women. You can hear the contempt and complete disregard for life contained in those two words. By putting such women in a neat little box—a group without distinction—there is no reason to recognize the person beneath or the dignity bestowed on each of us by our oneness with our Father.  I wonder how often each of us uses phrases like this? In our churches… that prayer group; in our classrooms… those children; on the streets… the panhandlers; and on and on. Does our need for security and the assurance that we are above the rabble hold us back from recognizing the uniqueness of each individual and the journey each one follows?

As my educational career path turned towards administration several years ago, there was much to learn.  Having worked primarily with students up to that point, my day became packed with adult interactions: teachers, parents and other community stakeholders. One lesson on the learning curve hit me hard. As a young teacher, I had not been particularly tuned into the pain and heartache that so many adults struggle with daily. I became privy to the life stories of my teachers and staff; people who were dealing with illnesses and addictions, aging parents and financial issues. The stories were filled with anguish but I also saw such hope, resilience and faith. Suddenly, those teachers who never joined the rest of the staff for lunch were really giving support to a young colleague whose son had leukemia. Those parents who were often challenging were actually concerned about a friend who cared for her mother with dementia. And those school commission members who never seemed to understand the needs of the school at large were reacting as loving parents who wanted the best for their children.

This Fifth Sunday of Lent asks us to be aware of our own “inner Scribe/Pharisee”…that inner critic that seeks to protect our own self first instead of allowing Jesus to let us view the world through his eyes. He gently encourages us to let go of the rocks and truly become the source of love we are called to be.
 
Dr. Peg Dispenzieri served as Superintendent for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana until her retirement in 2022.