A Moral Moment

Fifth Sunday of Lent; John 8:1-11

This past week, we witnessed history being made. Actually, we saw it happen multiple times, but I refer to Senator Cory Booker speaking from the United States Senate floor for 25 hours and 5 minutes. In doing so, he broke a record that was last set in 1957 by a Senator who was attempting to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957, a law that would have prohibited Senator Booker from becoming a Senator in the first place.

Besides the length of the speech, and the incredible physical stamina it required, what was momentous and moving was that Sen. Booker’s speech was not about specific legislation or a particular political agenda. What was so inspiring was we saw and heard him speak from his heart about how we should be more Christ-like as Americans. And he did not exclude Jews, Muslims, or any other religion. He cried out to us all that there is a kinder and more just way of acting than we are seeing our government doing at this moment. Sen. Booker did not ask for any political outcomes, “except that “the people” have the power to speak and act to restore our compassion and our democracy.” [1]

Jesus demonstrates to us all a similar message in this Gospel reading. Seeking to trap Jesus into making a distinctive religious (and political) position, the Pharisees goad Jesus with an impossible situation. Unbeknownst to the Pharisees, Jesus is smarter than that. Jesus neither condones the woman’s sin, nor does he condemn it. And in so doing, he confounds the “smartest people in the room.”

In our incredibly polarized society, it is easy to get trapped into making a declarative statement for or against a position. Be it about politics or religion, too often we are pressured to choose a side. I need to do a better job at being like Jesus in those situations. First, I need to pause. I need to stop and start writing on the ground, so to speak. That will give me time to reflect on the situation and ask for guidance on how to respond.

Then I can face my challengers face to face. And, while it is not necessarily for me to condemn any wrongdoing, it is also my opportunity to speak truth and say what is unjust about the situation. And if I am being pressed to choose one side or another, then I am sure there is injustice somehow involved.

Finally, I can speak, in love, to all involved with the message of God’s love and mercy. Jesus himself gives the answer in the next line of John’s Gospel (that we do not hear today) by saying, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’” [John 8:12]

Senator Booker offers all of us an example of walking in the light. As Rev. Jim Wallis wrote this week, “No matter who or where we are, each of us can find the courage and the resolve that we saw in our brother Cory, to speak and stand in our own ways, and in the places where we find ourselves. And such decisions can lead to outcomes we cannot yet imagine.” [1]

Writer Gordon Kubanek sums this up nicely. “In other words, when Christ’s light lives within us, those of us who tend toward self-righteousness will be healed of our tendency to condemn. Likewise, those of us who tend toward self-pity will be healed of our tendency to turn a blind eye to sin. This is a tall order; one we cannot possibly fulfill under our own power. That is why we pray. That is why we give to charity. That is why we lend a helping hand to our neighbor. That is why we share the Gospel—because Christ is far wiser than we are. Christ’s Way sets us free, makes us more alive, and, paradoxically, by giving our lives to him, we discover our truest selves.” [2]

Every Day.

[1] Jim Wallis,  “A Moral Call in A Moral Moment”, God’s Politics With Jim Wallis, April 3, 2025,  https://tinyurl.com/2y89l5wj

[2] Gordon Kubanek, “No Condemnation, No Sinning”, Franciscan Action Network Newsletter: April 1, 2025, https://tinyurl.com/23untof3

© 2025 by Timothy J. Doppel

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