| Reading
the Seasons of Life
Fr.
George Smiga
March
24/25 2007
John
8: 1 - 11
There
was a wise Persian king who had four sons. The king saw that
his chief responsibility was to make sure that his sons grew
up with wisdom knowing how to live. So one winter day he said
to eldest son, ‘Look I own a farm in the next village and
in that farm there is a huge mango tree. It costs me a great
deal to maintain it. I want you to go and examine this tree
and make a judgment whether is worth the investment. I plan
to ask your brothers to do the same.” So the eldest son went
and looked at the tree. When spring came the king sent his
second son. He sent his third son in summer and his youngest
son in the fall. Then he called the boys together to make
their judgment. The eldest son spoke first, “Father,” he said,
“this tree is nothing more than a barren stump, I would cut
it down.” The second son had a different opinion, “Father,”
he said, “the tree is covered with many luxurious leaves and
produces much shade, but you would have to weigh whether the
shade that is produced is worth the cost of maintenance.”
The third son fundamentally agreed with his brother, “I saw
beautiful flowers on the tree as well but father you will
have to decide whether you plan to visit this tree and enjoy
the flowers. If you choose not to do this, it is probably
not worth the cost of maintenance.” But the youngest son disagreed
strongly with his brothers. “Father,” he said, “I have never
seen such huge and luxurious fruit on any tree. It would bring
a fortune in the marketplace. I say this tree must be maintained
no matter what the cost.” The father was satisfied and smiled,
“Each of you is correct, for each of you saw the tree at a
different time. The lesson is clear – if you wish to be wise,
you should withhold your judgment until you have seen the
tree in all of its seasons.”
This
story relates to the Gospel because today's passage is about
judgments and how we make them. The people around Jesus were
quick and ready to judge the woman who had been caught in
the act of adultery. They saw her as a sinner and they said
she should be punished. Their judgment was correct and Jesus
did not debate it. But without excusing her sin Jesus chose
to see the woman in a larger context. He could imagine her
in a different season, in a season that was different from
the barren and sinful season in which she now stood. He could
imagine her in a season that was productive and full of life.
Jesus challenged his listeners and challenges us to give the
woman another chance, to suspend judgment in light of another
season which could produce much fruit.
This
larger vision of Jesus supports his frequent teaching that
we should not judge others. He tells us that we should not
judge not because our judgments are incorrect but because
they are often incomplete. There are many seasons to every
person's life. In light of the better seasons the wise person
refrains from judging and making a final judgment today.
Now
there's a caveat that comes with Jesus' teaching. When he
tells us that we are not to judge others he does not mean
that we are to let others take advantage of us. We must make
judgments to protect ourselves from those who would manipulate
us or abuse us. We must make judgments to protect ourselves
and those that we love from those who would harm us because
of their selfishness or dysfunction. To make such judgments
is not only good but necessary. But when Jesus calls us not
to judge others, he asks us not to make a final judgment.
We should not be too quick to write off those whom we dislike
or those with whose ideas and actions we disagree. Even though
we know others are wrong dead wrong, even when we are convinced
that there is no way we can condone their actions, Jesus nevertheless
says that we should postpone final judgment in light of the
better seasons that might be produced in their lives, in light
of the better people that they might someday become.
Now
this teaching is not easy. All of us can think of people whom
we are ready to judge, people that we would be quick to reject.
How do we find the strength to withhold final judgment? Jesus
shows us the way. In today's Gospel when others were ready
and willing to pass final judgment on the woman who was caught
in adultery he asks them to think of their weakness, to think
of their sins. Jesus says anyone here who is without win should
be the first to cast a stone at her. In the same way when
we are filled with anger and righteousness and ready to judge
another, Jesus asks us to think of our worst season. Then
we should remember the time when we messed up the most, when
we acted with deep selfishness, when we hurt someone unjustly.
Jesus knows that if we remember our worst season, it may give
us the freedom not to judge someone in their worst season.
When we remember our weakness and sin, we might find the freedom
to accept another in light of the better person they have
the potential to become.
Jesus
tells us that it is not our role to judge another. This is
not because our judgment would be incorrect, but because it
would be incomplete. Once we have taken steps to protect ourselves
and those we love from harm, it is not our role to condemn
anyone. Instead we are asked to entrust others to God's care,
hoping that what is wrong in their life might change and what
is barren in their life might in time product fruit.
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