A reflection I gave last week.
When we are born, we are so innocent. We do not know how to judge others or to condemn them. Yet these behaviors are learned as we grow.
In the gospel Jesus teaches the Scribes and Pharisees to stop being so judgemental and to start examining their own inability to love their neighbor. We have heard so many times in scripture how the Pharisees and Scribes in their self righteousness always points out the failings of everyone else and never look at their own sins and weaknesses.
"Let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone." As we heard in the reading, all the woman's accusers walked away. Jesus, the one with out sin who could condemn, is the one left with the woman. However, he neither condemns nor accuses her. Instead he shows mercy and love. Jesus offers forgiveness, not punishment.
The Scribes and Pharisees were willing to hold the adulterous woman bound in her sin and shame and stone her to death. When we pass judgement or condemn others, or choose not to forgive, we hold them bound in their sin or whatever we see as a failing. We also hold ourselves bound in our inability to love enough in order to forgive. Yet when we show forgiveness, we release the other and ourselves to a freedom that shows the love of God in our lives. Jesus instructs the woman to go and sin no more. Imagine the relief she felt: relief from the burden of her sin; relief from her fear of being caught; relief from being stoned to death. Each time we go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation we also have the opportunity to go and sin no more. Oh, if only we could do that! In our human weakness we will continue to sin again and again. Just as Jesus shows how much he loves the adulterous woman, so also does he show us extravagant love when we take on the role of a Pharisee or a sinner.
In this last full week of Lent and the days leading up to the Triduum, may we fast from judging others and condemning. May we show the mercy and love of God that is so needed wherever we are.
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