In the Gospel, we see a women dragged into the streets but who because of Jesus’ response, emerges from her enslavement. Emerging seems to describe our humanity. We are emerging because we are centering ourselves on the witness of peacemakers, like Christ Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus’ life witness, as shown with the woman in the Gospel, shows he related in communion, he revealed a loving disposition, and he practiced creative healing power. Centered on Christ, disciples are emerging from institutional christianity. It tends hinder Jesus’ witness. For example, institutional Christianity tends to relate via hierarchy not in communion as Jesus did. It tends to imagine God from a War Lord deity’s image in which we seek atonement for our sins from a wrathful deity who justifiably inflicts suffering, instead of Jesus’ revelation of love. Institutional christianity also tends to propose violence as a saving action for humanity rather than Jesus’ power to heal. The three non-Christian values are exemplified in today’s reading. Ruling hierarchs, inflict suffering on a woman judged a sinner, and propose violence, stoning her to death, as the saving action – which Jesus rejects.
Emerging people are beginning to realize no healthy person, certainly not Jesus, gives witness to institutional christianity’s three harmful elements; hierarchy, a belief that others – even all humanity – are sinners, and an ethic of violence. These three elements that comprise institutional christianity have their source. Paul of Tarsus organized these three elements. How ready are people to consider that in the same way today’s Gospel shows Jesus freeing a woman targeted for death, he frees all humanity targeted for death by these three deadly elements?
People’s freedom from these elements can be likened to Michelangelo’s Slaves sculptures. One figure especially is still in the process of emerging from its earthen tomb. We too are artists, centered on peacemakers, like Jesus, and are needed to help enslaved people emerge from the tombs encasing them. Our witness can do so. Jesus’ way of communion, love, and creative healing power are emerging as the way to free humanity.
Prayer: Source of All Beauty, illuminate and inspire us as artists.
Question: What holds me back from living the Way of Peace?
March 17, 2013 Gospel John 8:1-11 5th Sunday of Lent / Spring equinox heralding the Resurrection