Nougat 26

Yesterday was recognized as International Day to end Violence against Women and Girls in commemoration of four Latina Women executed in the previous century. Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think about the ways in which we perpetuate or prevent injustice.

““Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”” ‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In a recent hybrid launch for the 16 Days of Activism to end Violence Against Women and Girls, one of the panelists noted that there are several discrepancies occurring in this nougat. The guests were challenged to move away from using the term ‘protection’, as life in fullness should have everyone being treated as God’s good creation. He noted the difference in treatment of the woman and her invisible ‘partner’; and the glaring double standard of Jesus’ detractors. How would we respond if/when presented with similar situations?

Since the question is put to us and not Jesus, hypothetically speaking, do we also wish to peel away the layers at play in our initial response. For some, we may be conflicted: caught between the challenge of our views on adultery and the injustice of one person being blamed. Others of us are stuck at ‘caught in adultery’, as this may be a trigger for us. Still others of us might not see the need for all the hullabaloo.

Whatever our response, I suspect that they are informed by other factors from our contexts. I encourage each of us to consider all aspects of the pericope, even walking in the shoes of each character, ensuring that we ask the critical questions for the sake of God’s Justice. We might opt to interrogate the silent/silenced characters in the unfolding drama.

If so, we might ask whether the partner in the act was in the crowd of accusers. Where was he, when she was dragged before Jesus and was he also wishing to have her stoned (for all we know, the case might have been a set-up. They did bring the ‘case’ to Jesus as a test)?

And what of her husband? Was he also there? Was he a Hosea-type who was prepared to purchase her salvation; would he defend her; was he embarrassed; was he in the crowd also accusing her? If she had brothers or her father, were they bitter about the situation?

Having weighed the various facets, I propose that we also spend time with God’s Spirit, discerning how we can be agents of transformation in our own contexts. And above all may God’s grace be with us, if/when we are the ones facing the fire (real or constructed).

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May all we seek be found in Christ