Discernment – a Choice Between Apparent Good and Real Good.
Today’s liturgy encourages us to carefully discern our choices and decisions we make, especially the most important ones that affect our entire life. The natural law reflected in God’s commandments and precepts are helpful to guide us in our discernment. Regardless if it is intentional or not, we are still able to choose evil instead of good because of our free will. Our well-formed conscious constantly reminds us about God’s Law when we choose evil or even apparent good instead of real one.
A good example of making wrong choices in life is described by today’s gospel. It is about a woman who was caught on adultery and brought to Jesus for judgment. The only verdict for adultery according to the Law of Moses was death penalty (Deuteronomy 22:22).
We can only imagine what was going on in the mind of the woman who was standing in front of Jesus at that moment. We do not have any evidence that she was an evil person or prostitute. Probably she just fell in love with a man and believed it was the true love she was missing. The woman, like all Israelites, knew the law and the consequences of adultery. She was aware of it and still continued her relationship with the man. She must strongly believe, he was the right man and their relationship will be eventually legalized. According to her, it was worthy to risk her life for the man and real relationship she finally found.
When I read the story, I always wonder where the man who committed adultery with the women is. The law regarding adultery was equal to both, man and women. Both of them were guilty of death penalty (Deuteronomy 22:22). I imagine the woman standing in front of Jesus and facing the death penalty was wondering the same, where is my man, who promised to be with me for good and bad, life and death? Why he is not beside me now? We supposed to die together. She probably felt abandoned and betrayed. She realized only now, their love was not honest and true. She made wrong choices and decisions to stay with the man.
We know the end of the story. Jesus who knew the hearts of people defended and protected the woman. Jesus wanted to give her another chance to make better choices in life. His heart was full of compassion, in contrary to the people in the crowd who wanted to stone her.
I do not think today’s gospel was written only for people who struggle to find their true love or commit adultery. We all can benefit from this story. Many of us struggle to make right choices and decisions in life. We are tempted by disordered attachments to go for an easier solution, and we are often pushed by difficult circumstances to choose apparent good instead of real one. Everything looks beautiful and perfect at the beginning but then, we end in misery and spiritual death.
The Lenten Season encourages us to reflect upon and practice our discernment. Our choices and decisions we make must never contradict God’s Law. When we often pray and nourish our relationship with God, our discernment is likely sound. Then, it is easier to choose the real good instead of the apparent one in our life.
"You cannot make progress without making right decisions." (Jim Rohn)
Fr. Andrzej
