A Look That Saves

I invite you to imagine the scene. It’s early morning. Like so many other early mornings, Jesus has just come from being alone, in silence, from the Mount of Olives. He sits in the temple square, listening and speaking to the people. Jesus speaks to them of a merciful God. But that peaceful day is interrupted by a group of men coming toward the temple, pushing a woman. They are going to stone her since that is what the law commands against adulterers.

The group stands before Jesus. The woman is there, in the middle, trembling with fear. She knows they are going to kill her. Finally, Jesus stands up and, looking into their eyes, says: “Let he who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

After a while, the shouting diminishes until there is silence. Evil usually makes a lot of noise, while good acts in silence.

The woman doesn’t understand what has happened. She sees her accusers leaving, moving away, and she is left there alone, in the middle of the square, facing this man, who with his words has driven away those who wanted to kill her in the name of the law, in the name of God.

Then, the most beautiful thing happens: Jesus looks at the woman; her eyes meet Jesus’s, and she feels saved. There are looks that kill, and there are looks that save.

On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, let us ask Jesus to look into our eyes and tell us, for the many things we have thought, said, and done: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

May the Lord always give us his peace!

Fr. Lalo Jara, OFM Pastor,
Mission San Luis Rey Parish