John 8:1-11 NRSVue
1while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, 4they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”]],
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
Jesus prayed for his own sake and that others might believe through his
prayer and his example. Prayer is never a solitary exercise, even when we
pray alone. It brings us in touch with the body of Christ, of Jesus who is
risen from death, and of Jesus present in all his people. Prayer affects the
lives of others; in that sense prayer is political, affecting how we live
together, asking to be unbound and live in freedom like Lazarus. Knowing that
others pray with Sacred Space can help my life of prayer.
Reflection
These words of Jesus are spoken all the time: ‘I do not condemn you’. In
prayer we often feel condemned for our past, or just for whatever in
ourselves makes us feel shame. We condemn ourselves for meanness in the past,
for our use of people for our own ends. We may also condemn ourselves for
feelings we have or aspects of our personalities of which we feel ashamed. We
can do nothing better than come before the Lord in shame and sin, and allow
the words of mercy, ‘I do not condemn you’ fill the shame, the guilt
which makes our hearts and souls so empty.
Reflection
Jesus is the one who never condemns, even when we are most condemnatory of
ourselves. The look of Jesus to this condemned woman saved her - the look of
divine and everlasting love. In prayer we can bring all the shame and guilt
of our lives to this story of forgiveness and hear words spoken to each of us
- ‘I do not condemn you.'
Reflection
As the people reflected on their lives and realized their need for
forgiveness, they turned and went away. As I reflect on my life and consider
my need for forgiveness I realise that I need to draw closer to Jesus, who
loves me.
Reflection
I hear the words of Jesus speaking to me - not condemning me, but giving me a
new mission and anew vision of myself.
Reflection
This story often invites people to heap criticism on the Pharisees; we can
become critical, judgemental and superior just as we notice these traits in
the Pharisees. 'Don't look out', Jesus says, 'look in'. I look in to my heart
and become aware of my own need for forgiveness.