'Living Lent': Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent - Day 34

PRAY:
"Even though I walk in the dark valley I will fear no evil; for you are at my side..."

READING: John 8:2-11

2 At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

3 The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in the middle

4 they said to Jesus, 'Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery,

5 and in the Law Moses has ordered us to stone women of this kind. What have you got to say?'

6 They asked him this as a test, looking for an accusation to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger.

7 As they persisted with their question, he straightened up and said, 'Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her.'

8 Then he bent down and continued writing on the ground.

9 When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until the last one had gone and Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained in the middle.

10 Jesus again straightened up and said, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'

11 'No one, sir,' she replied. 'Neither do I condemn you,' said Jesus. 'Go away, and from this moment sin no more.'

MEDITATION:
What was Jesus writing on the ground? Nobody is certain, for it was not written in the Gospel. But some scholars suspect he was writing the names of the scribes and Pharisees and their adulterous lovers. This is what would embarrass them enough to cause them all to leave.

It is common to sin. We all ought to be ashamed of the sins we have committed. We cannot stand against the accusation of sin, all we can do is ask forgiveness of Christ. The good news, the Gospel is, He forgives us and saves us!

Let us remember that as God forgives us and saves us, we too should not judge others. Instead, we must pardon them and spare them too. We are not without sin, we have no purpose throwing stones.

LET US PRAY:
Lord, make me aware of my sins so I may appreciate that I am imperfect. Help me to be mindful so I will not repeat them. Build up mercy in my heart so I do not condemn others, but rather forgive. Help me to sin no more.

ACTION:
I will think of a time I condemned someone when I myself was tainted with sin. I will pardon them, and ask forgiveness for my sins. I will work to avoid judging others.