"NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU. GO AND FROM NOW ON, DO NOT SIN ANYMORE."
As we proceed in our Lenten pilgrimage, today we are enriched by the unforgettable example of Jesus who offers His forgiveness and restores dignity to the adulterous woman who had been dragged in front of Him in shame and fear. The teaching of mercy and forgiveness conveyed last Sunday through a parable, today is offered us through an example from real life.
The challenging sentence: “Let the one among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone” is directed not only to the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees of two thousand years ago, but also to those among us who easily judge and condemn others. We should never forget that we, too, are frail and sinful, and that we must learn to be merciful if we want to enjoy God’s mercy.
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.”
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.”
