Lagura: Human justice, divine mercy

IN the heat of an important battle a young soldier—terrified by the carnage and blood around him—ran away from the field. Later, when his side proved victorious and his officer brought him in front of the commanding general, the young soldier shook with more fear, for he was sentenced to die before the firing squad as a deserter.

As the young soldier faced execution, his mother suddenly rushed to the general’s camp. “Have mercy on my young son, your Excellency,” the mother pleaded. To which the general replied, “For deserting, your son does not deserve mercy.” Undaunted the woman answered, “If my son deserves what I am asking from you, then it would not be mercy.” Grudgingly the general told the persistent mother, “Very well, then, your son will receive mercy.”

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When the Jews brought the woman caught in adultery before Jesus, the accusers thought they had an ‘open and shut case.’ The law Moses handed down to them was clear—adulterers should be stoned to death. Moreover, there were more than 2 witnesses to the alleged crime. Who could rebut them?

However, the circumstances of the case were suspect. Where was the partner in the crime? Perhaps he had mingled with the all-male mob of accusers and held a stone in his hand poised to smash to death the object of his lust, not a partner to love.

While the Jews thirsted for a strict application of the law, justice demanded that the partner of the crime should have also been subjected to similar shaming and punishment. Before them, however, was Jesus who came “not to abrogate the Law, but to fulfill it.” Fulfillment of the Law consists in mercy which is purely a gift no one deserves.

Lately, the exclusion of a young girl from a Catholic school because her mother lived an openly lesbian lifestyle which is contrary to Church teaching. People pleaded for mercy on the child citing the Lord’s mercy and love for innocent children. The Church leaders, however, insisted on the contract the parents enter into with the Catholic school by which they agree to abide by the teachings of the Church and the school policies. More importantly, the local bishop cited the lack of remorse shown by the parent who blatantly carried on her controversial lifestyle.

While the soldier and his mother accepted the verdict of guilty for deserting, the mother of the young child flaunted brazen defiance. Could divine mercy still be given in such a case? Jesus was merciful, but he also saw the merit of the law. According to the rules of justice Jesus realized that the woman was guilty and should have been dealt with accordingly. However, showing sublime understanding and divine mercy the Lord told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you (but) [admonishing the woman in all seriousness he continued] go and do not sin anymore.” John 8:11.