Dear Friends:
This Sunday’s Gospel presents a poignant scene. Taken from the eighth chapter of John, this account appears nowhere else in the Gospels. It tells of Jesus’ encounter with a woman who was caught in the act of committing adultery, a very grave sin, a sin which, under the Law of Moses, called for death by stoning. In this account, scribes and Pharisees, those who often prided themselves on their strict observance of all that the Law of Moses demanded, bring this woman before Jesus, shaming her publicly, demeaning and depersonalizing her in the process, in order to try to score a point against Jesus. They wanted to trap him so that they could have a reason to bring charges against him, and ultimately, get rid of him.
They reminded Jesus of what the Law of Moses prescribed for anyone caught in the act of adultery, death by stoning. What does Jesus have to say? If he agreed, ordering the woman to be stoned, he would get into trouble with the Roman authorities who would see such a command as an act of sedition, for Rome had reserved all capital punishment to itself. If Jesus did not order the woman to be stoned, he could be charged with violating the strict demands of the Law of Moses.
Masterfully, Jesus says nothing. Instead, he bends down and begins with write with his finger on the ground. Many commentators through the centuries have wondered just what Jesus wrote on the ground. He could merely be doodling, as he thought about a response. He could have written down the sins of the religious leaders who accused the woman. One interesting idea holds that Jesus wrote on the ground, “Where is the man?” for, as we know, it takes two to commit an act of adultery. Whatever he did write, we do not know.
What we do know is that Jesus straightened up and, ignoring their question, threw the gauntlet, as it were, back in their direction. “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. And, as John tells it, they all left, one by one, beginning with the elders who accused the woman in the first place. In the end, only the woman and Jesus remained.
Jesus treated the woman, nameless to this day, with great compassion and mercy. He treated her as a person worthy of love and respect. For his part, he would not condemn her. But he does tell her to “Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore.” We can only imagine just how that woman’s life that day was changed forever.
This account in John’s Gospel gives us a two things to ponder. First of all, we should never use others, or the sins and failings of others, as a means of settling scores or getting even or even as a means of exalting ourselves. We should never look down on others as sinners, less than ourselves, or even as less than human because of what they have done. All of us are sinners. All of us are capable, given the right set of circumstances, of committing sin, even very grave sin. What we are called to with regard to others, especially when it comes to their sins and failings, is compassion and mercy.
Secondly, we must avoid the temptation to take sin lightly, or to see it as of no account. Jesus certainly did not do so with the woman. While he did not beat her down, condemn her and berate her for her sin, he did not excuse it lightly, either. He met her where she was and called her forward. He did not condemn her, but readily forgave her, and challenged her to be her better self. The same holds true for us. Sin, in any form, in any degree, is loathsome in the eyes of God and it is not be taken lightly. That being said, no sin is beyond God’s mercy. No one is ever written off by God. All are offered readily and often the mercy and compassion of God. All we need do is to acknowledge our sins and accept God’s mercy and forgiveness, and get up and move forward. “Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore.”
Have a good week!
ARCHIVES
-
April 2025
1
- Apr 6, 2025 April 6, 2025
-
March 2025
4
- Mar 30, 2025 March 30, 2025
- Mar 23, 2025 March 23, 2025
- Mar 16, 2025 March 16, 2025
- Mar 2, 2025 March 2, 2025
-
February 2025
2
- Feb 16, 2025 February 16, 2025
- Feb 9, 2025 February 9, 2025
-
January 2025
2
- Jan 26, 2025 January 26, 2025
- Jan 12, 2025 January 12, 2025
-
December 2024
3
- Dec 15, 2024 December 15, 2024
- Dec 8, 2024 December 8, 2024
- Dec 1, 2024 December 1, 2024
-
November 2024
1
- Nov 10, 2024 November 10, 2024
-
October 2024
3
- Oct 27, 2024 October 27, 2024
- Oct 20, 2024 October 20, 2024
- Oct 6, 2024 October 6, 2024
-
September 2024
2
- Sep 29, 2024 September 29, 2024
- Sep 1, 2024 September 1, 2024
-
August 2024
1
- Aug 11, 2024 August 11, 2024
-
July 2024
3
- Jul 28, 2024 July 28, 2024
- Jul 21, 2024 July 21, 2024
- Jul 14, 2024 July 14, 2024
-
June 2024
1
- Jun 2, 2024 June 2, 2024
-
May 2024
2
- May 19, 2024 May 19, 2024
- May 5, 2024 May 5, 2024
-
March 2024
2
- Mar 31, 2024 March 31, 2024
- Mar 10, 2024 March 10, 2024
-
February 2024
2
- Feb 25, 2024 February 25, 2024
- Feb 11, 2024 February 11, 2024
-
January 2024
2
- Jan 14, 2024 January 14, 2024
- Jan 7, 2024 January 7, 2024
-
December 2023
2
- Dec 31, 2023 December 31, 2023
- Dec 17, 2023 December 17, 2023
-
November 2023
1
- Nov 12, 2023 November 12, 2023
-
October 2023
3
- Oct 29, 2023 October 29, 2023
- Oct 15, 2023 October 15 2023
- Oct 8, 2023 October 8, 2023
-
September 2023
2
- Sep 17, 2023 September 17, 2023
- Sep 3, 2023 September 3, 2023
-
August 2023
1
- Aug 6, 2023 August 6, 2023
-
July 2023
2
- Jul 30, 2023 July 30, 2023
- Jul 16, 2023 July 16, 2023
-
June 2023
3
- Jun 25, 2023 June 25, 2023
- Jun 11, 2023 June 11, 2023
- Jun 4, 2023 June 4, 2023
-
May 2023
2
- May 28, 2023 May 28, 2023
- May 14, 2023 May 14, 2023
-
April 2023
3
- Apr 23, 2023 April 23, 2023
- Apr 16, 2023 April 16, 2023
- Apr 2, 2023 April 2, 2023
-
March 2023
2
- Mar 26, 2023 March 26, 2023
- Mar 5, 2023 March 5, 2023
-
February 2023
1
- Feb 19, 2023 February 19, 2023
-
January 2023
4
- Jan 29, 2023 January 29, 2023
- Jan 22, 2023 January 22, 2023
- Jan 15, 2023 January 15 2023
- Jan 8, 2023 January 1, 2023
-
December 2022
2
- Dec 25, 2022 December 25, 2022
- Dec 4, 2022 December 4, 2022
-
November 2022
2
- Nov 13, 2022 November 13, 2022
- Nov 6, 2022 November 6, 2022
-
October 2022
2
- Oct 23, 2022 October 23, 2022
- Oct 16, 2022 October 16, 2022
-
September 2022
2
- Sep 25, 2022 Spetmber 25, 2022
- Sep 4, 2022 September 4, 2022
-
August 2022
2
- Aug 21, 2022 August 21, 2022
- Aug 7, 2022 August 7, 2022
-
July 2022
2
- Jul 31, 2022 July 31, 2022
- Jul 25, 2022 July 24, 2022
-
June 2022
2
- Jun 26, 2022 June 26, 2022
- Jun 5, 2022 June 5, 2022
-
May 2022
1
- May 8, 2022 May 8, 2022
-
March 2022
2
- Mar 20, 2022 March 20, 2022
- Mar 6, 2022 March 6, 2022
-
February 2022
1
- Feb 6, 2022 February 6, 2022
-
January 2022
1
- Jan 16, 2022 January 16, 2022
-
December 2021
1
- Dec 12, 2021 December 12, 2021
-
November 2021
2
- Nov 28, 2021 November 28, 2021
- Nov 14, 2021 November 14, 2021
-
October 2021
4
- Oct 31, 2021 October 31, 2021
- Oct 24, 2021 October 24, 2021
- Oct 17, 2021 October 17, 2021
- Oct 3, 2021 October 3, 2021
-
September 2021
2
- Sep 19, 2021 September 19, 2021
- Sep 5, 2021 September 5, 2021
-
August 2021
1
- Aug 22, 2021 August 22, 2021
-
July 2021
2
- Jul 18, 2021 July 18, 2021
- Jul 4, 2021 July 4, 2021
-
June 2021
1
- Jun 20, 2021 June 20, 2021
-
May 2021
3
- May 29, 2021 May 30, 2021
- May 16, 2021 May 16, 2021
- May 9, 2021 May 9, 2021
-
April 2021
2
- Apr 24, 2021 April 25, 2021
- Apr 11, 2021 April 11, 2021
-
March 2021
2
- Mar 21, 2021 March 21, 2021
- Mar 7, 2021 March 7, 2021
-
February 2021
2
- Feb 21, 2021 February 21, 2021
- Feb 7, 2021 February 7, 2021
-
January 2021
5
- Jan 31, 2021 January 31, 2021
- Jan 24, 2021 January 24, 2021
- Jan 17, 2021 January 17, 2021
- Jan 10, 2021 January 10, 2021
- Jan 3, 2021 January 3, 2021
-
December 2020
1
- Dec 6, 2020 December 6, 2020
-
November 2020
2
- Nov 8, 2020 November 8, 2020
- Nov 1, 2020 November 1, 2020
-
October 2020
3
- Oct 25, 2020 October 25, 2020
- Oct 18, 2020 October 18, 2020
- Oct 4, 2020 October 4, 2020
-
September 2020
1
- Sep 20, 2020 September 20, 2020
-
August 2020
2
- Aug 29, 2020 August 30, 2020
- Aug 16, 2020 August 16, 2020
-
July 2020
1
- Jul 19, 2020 July 19, 2020
-
June 2020
3
- Jun 28, 2020 June 28, 2020
- Jun 21, 2020 June 21, 2020
- Jun 14, 2020 June 14, 2020
-
May 2020
3
- May 31, 2020 May 31, 2020
- May 17, 2020 May 17, 2020
- May 3, 2020 May 3, 2020
-
April 2020
2
- Apr 19, 2020 April 19, 2020
- Apr 12, 2020 April 12, 2020
-
March 2020
3
- Mar 29, 2020 March 29, 2020
- Mar 15, 2020 March 15, 2020
- Mar 8, 2020 March 8, 2020
-
February 2020
2
- Feb 23, 2020 February 23, 2020
- Feb 2, 2020 February 2, 2020
-
January 2020
3
- Jan 26, 2020 January 26, 2020
- Jan 19, 2020 January 19, 2020
- Jan 12, 2020 January 12, 2020
-
December 2019
2
- Dec 15, 2019 December 15, 2019
- Dec 7, 2019 December 1, 2019
-
November 2019
2
- Nov 24, 2019 November 24, 2019
- Nov 10, 2019 November 10, 2019
-
October 2019
1
- Oct 6, 2019 October 6, 2019
-
September 2019
2
- Sep 21, 2019 September 22, 2019
- Sep 1, 2019 September 1, 2019
-
August 2019
1
- Aug 11, 2019 August 11, 2019
-
July 2019
1
- Jul 7, 2019 July 7, 2019
-
June 2019
1
- Jun 8, 2019 June 9, 2019
-
May 2019
1
- May 12, 2019 May 12, 2019
-
April 2019
1
- Apr 21, 2019 April 21, 2019
-
March 2019
2
- Mar 24, 2019 March 24, 2019
- Mar 3, 2019 March 3, 2019
-
February 2019
1
- Feb 3, 2019 February 3, 2019
-
January 2019
3
- Jan 27, 2019 January 27, 2019
- Jan 20, 2019 January 20, 2019
- Jan 13, 2019 January 13, 2019
-
December 2018
2
- Dec 30, 2018 December 30, 2018
- Dec 2, 2018 December 2, 2018
-
November 2018
2
- Nov 18, 2018 November 18, 2018
- Nov 4, 2018 November 4, 2018
-
October 2018
2
- Oct 21, 2018 October 21, 2018
- Oct 14, 2018 October 11, 2018
-
September 2018
2
- Sep 23, 2018 September 23, 2018
- Sep 9, 2018 September 9, 2018
-
August 2018
1
- Aug 5, 2018 August 5, 2018
-
July 2018
1
- Jul 22, 2018 July 22, 2018
-
June 2018
3
- Jun 23, 2018 June 24, 2018
- Jun 16, 2018 June 17, 2018
- Jun 3, 2018 June 3, 2018
-
May 2018
1
- May 6, 2018 May 6, 2018
-
April 2018
2
- Apr 13, 2018 April 15, 2018
- Apr 5, 2018 April 8, 2018
-
March 2018
4
- Mar 31, 2018 April 1, 2018
- Mar 15, 2018 March 18, 2018
- Mar 9, 2018 March 11, 2018
- Mar 2, 2018 March 4, 2018
-
February 2018
2
- Feb 16, 2018 February 18, 2018
- Feb 2, 2018 February 4, 2018
-
January 2018
4
- Jan 28, 2018 January 28, 2017
- Jan 20, 2018 January 21, 2018
- Jan 13, 2018 January 14, 2018
- Jan 7, 2018 January 7, 2018
-
December 2017
3
- Dec 24, 2017 December 24, 2017
- Dec 17, 2017 December 17, 2017
- Dec 3, 2017 December 3, 2017
-
November 2017
2
- Nov 12, 2017 November 12, 2017
- Nov 5, 2017 November 5, 2017
-
October 2017
3
- Oct 28, 2017 October 29, 2017
- Oct 15, 2017 October 15, 2017
- Oct 1, 2017 October 1, 2017
-
September 2017
2
- Sep 17, 2017 September 17, 2017
- Sep 3, 2017 September 3, 2017
-
August 2017
2
- Aug 20, 2017 August 20, 2017
- Aug 6, 2017 August 6, 2017
-
July 2017
3
- Jul 16, 2017 July 16, 2017
- Jul 9, 2017 July 9, 2017
- Jul 2, 2017 July 2, 2017