Lenten Reflection

Monday, March 30, 2009

John 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who
had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the
very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?" They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
"Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her."
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir."
Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

Reflection
Jen Hodgdon
Devolpment

"At least I'm perfect!"-- I find myself saying in a sarcastic tone as I finish ranting to a friend about someone who has just annoyed me. I use this statement to make myself feel better when I talk about someone behind their back. Better yet, "At least we're perfect!"-- this statement takes the guilt away about being the only one talking behind someone's back. Misery does love company.

Each of us has sinned. Each of us carries with us this burden that we have done wrong at one time or another. That is what makes us human. So why do we still judge others for making mistakes and committing sins? I wish I had an answer.

What I do know is that we are human. These sins we commit and these crosses we bare make us so. However, as I read today's Gospel, I am reminded that as humans we are also capable of forgiveness.

Jesus teaches us that we must forgive one another in order to move forward with our lives; even during the most trying times when an act seems so unforgiveable. It is at those critical times we must reflect and look deep inside ourselves for forgiveness. Forgiveness is not always easy. It may take time, for some it takes years. But it's there, the capability to forgive, and we need to be willing to seek it out.