By Raison D’Souza, CSC –
Readings: Dan 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; Jn 8: 1-11
“Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8:7) This sentence from Jesus changes the whole scenario in the gospel passage. The Scribes and Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus. They were known to be the defenders of the Law of Moses. Their target was not the woman but Jesus himself. They wanted to question and trap Jesus. Jesus does not perform a miracle here.
Moreover, he knew that this woman could not commit adultery by herself. Thus, he makes them realize their sinful deeds when they were about to stone the woman. This realization of one’s sin is the beginning of repentance. Jesus forgives the woman and tells her not to sin again.
If a similar situation were to occur today and if Jesus were to tell this sentence (Jn 8:7), I think people would have stoned the woman to death. In today’s world, the problem is in committing a sin and not realizing it. This is how the world is turning against God. The danger is in belittling a sin into a small mistake and considering it as no sin at all.
Unless we realize and turn to God, there is no opportunity for forgiveness. Thus, Jesus’ invitation to me today is to realize my behavior. I immediately judge others when they are wrong for whatever reasons. But when I think further, I realize that I also have the tendency to go wrong as others do. Jesus invites me to correct myself first.