5th Sunday of Lent 2025
Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11
In one of his many writings before he became Pope, Pope St John Paul ll said that ‘Hands are the heart’s landscape’ - because of how much we can tell by the way people use their hands.
I am thinking of the portrayal of the hands of the father in Rembrandt’s painting of The Return of the Prodigal Son, which illustrates so beautifully the parable in last Sunday’s gospel. One hand is shown to be strong and protective while the other is gentle and compassionate.
Today’s gospel story also features hands. The accusing fingers on the hands of the Pharisees are in stark contrast to the beckoning hands of Jesus. But there are other hands in between the lines, with various gestures, describing this encounter between Jesus and the one who is perceived to be a sinner.
When the mob gathers and looks for support, the waving hands soon appear from every corner. They won’t initiate anything but they will follow the crowd. Cruel hands drag the woman and throw her into the centre of attention. Perhaps her trembling hands attempt to hide her face and shame.
Then we see the pointing fingers of criticism – ‘this woman’ (it’s as if she has no name!), caught in the very act of adultery ... against the law! …Condemn! … Stone her!’.
There are hands or fists clenched in anger at the outrage. There are hands clasping rocks to throw in punishment. And then, there are the mock-encouraging gestures and words addressed to Jesus seeking his judgement.
Yet how relaxed are the hands of Jesus, who bends down and writes with his finger on the ground. He was not writing her sins, he was drawing attention away from her, putting her faults into the background, into the dust of the ground. That one relaxed hand gives her a ray of unexpected hope. Maybe now she can take her hands down from her face and join them in the act of prayer and a plea for mercy. The Lord’s hand of compassion plays in the dust of creation, restores what was dead to life – “Go away, and don’t sin anymore”.
Indeed, it seems that “Hands are the heart’s landscape”.
Hands can be joined in prayer: hands can be out-stretched asking for mercy or forgiveness: hands can lift up and support: hands can touch and heal: hands can help and care: hands can be lifted in blessing: hands can salute success and peace.
My hands are sacred and they can do the work of God.
After David had sinned and come to his senses he made a choice; “Let us rather fall into the hand of the Lord, since his mercy is great, and not into the hands of men” (2 Sam 24:14).
We too make that prayer today and always.
‘Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit!’