Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
( Daniel 13:1-9.15-17.19-30.33-62; John 8:12-20)
Biblical scholars are convinced that today’s gospel passage
was not originally part of John’s gospel.
They say that somehow in the process of copying the Scriptures it was
displaced probably from the Gospel of Luke.
Be that as it may, the passage conforms to well-known verses from John.
In at least two places Jesus says that he has not come to
condemn or judge but to save (3:17, 12:47).
In today’s passage Jesus does just that.
The Pharisees and scribes bring the adulteress to Jesus with nefarious
intentions. They expect him to say that
the woman should be forgiven where the Law clearly states stoning is in order (see
Leviticus 20:10). Jesus, seeing through
their scheme, frustrates it. He won’t
contradict the Law but calls for the person without sin to cast the first
stone. His adversaries at least have the
honesty to recognize that they have all sinned.
They sheepishly leave the scene.
Applying Jesus’ wisdom to ourselves, we must recognize that
we too have participated in evil. This
recognition should deter us from punishing others for their sins. We might hear ourselves saying that we want
to “teach them a lesson.” That role should
be left to those who stand in the place of God – governments, parents, maybe
teachers and others. We are wise not to
cast stones.
