Gospel: John 8: 1-11
A woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus. The crowd has stones at the ready for her execution. Her guilt is not in question. The religious leaders ask Jesus to pass judgment, to take part in her execution. Jesus will have none of it. He writes on the ground, causing the crowd to drift away in silence. He then tells the woman he does not condemn her, and encourages her not to commit this sin again in the future.
In the book of Ezekiel, we read time and again the following statement: "As I live, says the Lord, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but rather in the sinner's conversion." Throughout his ministry and most poignantly in this scene, Jesus exhibits this mercy and patience of God. Time again he extends mercy and forgiveness. He repeatedly invites to table fellowship prostitutes, tax collectors, Pharisees, and his own disciples who betray, deny, and abandon him.
Meanwhile, we who claim to be Christian have callous hands from holding the stone of execution, always waiting to hurl it at someone. We cling to and defend a death penalty system Jesus clearly rejected here. We do precious little to extend mercy, forgiveness, and restoration to those who have offended. The stone in our hand is our heart. Let us lay it down and allow the Lord to soften it so that we may be people of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness just as he was.
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