Men's liberation !

John 8:1-11

            On a show called Judge Judy, invariably there is a scene of a man and his wife at one desk and the 'harlot' at the other desk. The wife hates the 'harlot' that stands at the next table. Isn't it amazing how things have not changed over the mellenia?  The wife is mad at the other woman but what about the man?? The man is equally guilty of adultery. The man is even more guilty than the other woman because he has betrayed a sacred trust. 

             I have always been amazed that in this scripture reading which highlights Jesus' love, forgiveness and a bit of clever justice, the man 'found in adultery' is not mentioned.  Does he not have some culpability in this?  Is the man simply a poor victim of his own natural desires?

           If we are to believe the scriptures at face value we would diminish some of their  most important lessons. It also would give us no room for growth, use of our intelligence and movement of the Holy Spirit. I am sure there are people out there who believe the scriptures tacitly condone men's passions, believe women are subservient, should never have been given the right to vote and are best off when 'elevated' to the role which God made them for, child bearing.  Have we not come further than this?  

          Jesus' whole life is a testament to inclusiveness, loving forgiveness and passive, if not literal, elevation of women to every aspect of human possibilities.  From the woman at the well, to the woman who 'chose the better portion', to Mary of Magdela and a whole host of other scripture passages, Jesus was a social rebel that speaks mountains for a liberal social agenda, women's rights being just one. We are meant to grow as people and as society.

        But back to the adulterous man. At the same time, we cannot steep ourselves in traditional male roles of the Old Testament that speak of concubines, slavery and a male dominated society. Men need to take up the torch of their responsibility and grow also. Men can no longer point to the bible for justification of their passions. We have a brain. Gay or straight, we are still responsible for our actions in bed and in relationships.  Going further, we cannot lives lives that do not accept mutual responsibility in the home. We are fully capable of  'women's work'. Cleaning? Cooking? Child rearing? There is no reason and no excuse not to accept fully the burden and joy of responsibility of your life with another. There is no reason and no excuse not to accept fully the burden and joy of responsibility of raising and loving children.

          We cannot selectively read scripture to condone behavior. The standard of love and responsibility is there as well as the use of our intelligence and talents.

           Long live the liberation of men.

             

while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.'