The Holy Gospel according to John 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
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.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
Reflection: This Gospel reading, and this verse has always intrigued me … “Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger”. I have always wondered what he was writing. Was He just doodling and stalling waiting for a good come back OR was He writing something specifically? My interest continues in my prayers and meditations.
This Gospel reading reminds me of a joke. So here was Jesus, once again preaching and teaching to the scribes and Pharisees, who brought this woman that they have accused of adultery. Jesus tells them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” As Jesus stood up and said this, suddenly a stone passes right by Jesus’ head! SCWOOSH! Jesus looks around wondering who threw it because he thought everyone on earth are sinners. As he looks around and the crowd could see what he is looking for, they separate to show the person that threw it. When Jesus saw who it was, he exclaimed, “MOM! I told you to stop following me around”!
We are quick to judge one another but yet, we ourselves are not perfect. How many times have we pre-judged someone only to find out later the facts and realized you were wrong in our judgement? Let’s take for example, Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscar’s and that social media has “blown this out of the water”. We automatically have taken a side and condemned one of the two. But why should we even bother? What does that accomplish by condemning one of them? Isn’t it true that every time we recite these words from “The Lord’s Prayer”; ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’, we are stating that we should forgive our fellow brother and sisters?
Anyone who finds themselves in a position to criticize others should first examine their own actions and strive for integrity. Jesus sought to inspire repentance not only in the accused, by extending mercy, but also in her accusers, by confronting them with their own shortcomings. While the Pharisees attempted to trap him, Jesus instead worked to persuade and transform them. He chose not to become involved in unnecessary conflict—a situation that might feel familiar. When Christ dismissed the woman, he did so with guidance: “Go, and sin no more.” Through this encounter, Jesus gave her a renewed sense of freedom; she was spared punishment and encouraged to look ahead.
Action of the Day: How many times has God allowed us this freedom from sin? How can you see Christ in people? How can you see people in people? Or how can you see people in you? I am not referring to the people that you know and love. I am referring to the people you don’t know or to the people you don’t love.
Audio Reflection:
