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Friends, today’s Gospel presents the story of the woman caught in adultery, which is one of the clearest demonstrations of what René Girard called the scapegoat mechanism.

The scribes and Pharisees bring to Jesus a woman they had caught in adultery. Where must they have been standing and how long must they have been waiting in order to catch her? Their eagerness to find a victim is testimony to the insatiable human need for scapegoats.

The novelty of the Gospel is revealed in Jesus’ refusal to contribute to the energy of the gathering storm: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus directs the energy of scapegoating violence back toward the accusers. He unveils the dangerous secret that the unstable order of the society has been predicated upon scapegoating. The Church Fathers emphasized this point with a neat interpretive move: they imagined that Jesus was writing in the sand none other than the sins of those who were threatening the woman.

Then we see, at least in seminal form, the new order: “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” The connection between Jesus and the woman is not the consequence of condemnation but rather the fruit of forgiveness offered and accepted. 

Lent Reflections

Daily Lent Reflections from Bishop Barron

5th week of Lent

Monday

March 18

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Sunday

March 17

Read

4th week of Lent

Saturday

March 16

Read

Friday

March 15

Read

Thursday

March 14

Read

Wednesday

March 13

Read

Tuesday

March 12

Read

Monday

March 11

Read

Sunday

March 10

Read

3rd week of Lent

Saturday

March 9

Read

Thursday

March 7

Read

Thursday

March 7

Read

Wednesday

March 6

Read

Tuesday

March 5

Read

Monday

March 4

Read

Sunday

March 3

Read

2nd week of Lent

Saturday

March 2

Read

Friday

March 1

Read

Thursday

February 29

Read

Wednesday

February 28

Read

Tuesday

February 27

Read

Monday

February 26

Read

Sunday

February 25

Read

1st week of Lent

Saturday

February 24

Read

Friday

February 23

Read

Thursday

February 22

Read

Wednesday

February 21

Read

Tuesday

February 20

Read

Monday

February 19

Read

Sunday

February 18

Read

Week of Ash Wednesday

Saturday

February 17

Read

Friday

February 16

Read

Thursday

February 15

Read

Wednesday

February 14

Read