The Reform of Renewal by Groeschel Fr. Benedict J

Author:Groeschel, Fr. Benedict J. [Groeschel, Fr. Benedict J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spiritual & Religion
ISBN: 9780898702866
Publisher: Ignatius Press
Published: 2011-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

Jesus and Women

The proscription against illicit desire in the Sermon on the Mount does not reveal Christ’s motive for His strict teaching on sexual morality. Paradoxically, this motive is revealed by something entirely different, almost contradictory, and that is His attitude toward women who were “sinners”. Many writers have already shown that Jesus’ attitude toward women was one of high esteem and delicate tact rarely encountered in later Judaism.14 He clearly took the religious aspirations of women seriously, and women responded to Him with loyalty and warmth. It is no accident that those who remained faithful to him to the end were, with a single exception, women (Lk 23:27ff.;Jn 20:25ff),

But we learn the most about Jesus’ attitude toward sexuality from His treatment of those women who were considered sinners by their contemporaries. Despite the fact that Jesus strongly defends marriage and family life (Mt 5:32; Mk 10:11) and declares marriage to be indissoluble (Mt 19:3-6), He shows an unexpected and at times, to some, scandalous regard for sinful women. The case of the woman who was a sinner “and whose sins were many” is a clear example (Lk 7:36-50). Jesus praises this woman “for she has loved much”, and He forgives her sins.

An even more unusual incident is that of the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. This woman, who had five husbands and was living with a man to whom she was not at the moment married, was given a profound spiritual teaching about the living waters of Jesus and the necessity of religion’s having its origin in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:1-42). Despite the fact that many scholars believe that the author of the Gospel uses this incident to express some of Jesus’ most profound teachings, there is no need to doubt that indeed He did have a kindly and respectful encounter with this poor woman who represented the traditional enemies of Jews.

Perhaps no incident reflects Jesus’ basic respect for all, no matter how debased or unfortunate, more than the account of the woman accused of adultery (Jn 8:1-11). His startling words at the end of the incident should be taken very seriously: “Neither do I condemn you; go and do not sin again.” We must ask why Jesus Christ, who calls us to repentance and holiness of life, offers praise to a sinful woman at a banquet, offers “living water” to a many-times-married woman living with another man and saves a woman condemned for adultery who did not seek Him out with repentance but encountered Him by apparent happenstance on the way to execution. The answer is that Jesus loves all the children of the Father and has come to seek and to save those who are lost (Lk 19:10).

If Jesus’ loving concern extends to these sinners and, in fact, even to His executioners, for whom He asks forgiveness (Lk 23:34), then every follower of Jesus must show love and respect to all. The root of all lustful behavior is a lack of respect. Lust uses others’

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