53Then each of them went home, 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.’ John 7:53-8:11
Dear Aunt Elizabeth,
There are some days that make me pause and wonder. Many things are going so well, but there are moments when I so wish to be home with the safe and familiar. There was a pregnant woman begging on the street near where we are housed. She is not allowed in anyone's home and the wise women tell me she is an outcast and we should avoid her at all costs. She is not too much older than I am but she has been with a married man. I ache for her as I know how people treated me at home when they thought I had done bad things. I think she is due very soon. I have bundled up some food and things for her since we seem to have much. I will take it to her under cover of darkness so as not to upset any of the local folks. They have been so kind to us and have made us a temporary home among them. Why is the world so harsh and people so willing to tear others down?
I am beginning to think we will never get back home. Rumors swirl about trouble for any young boys born locally. I have hear stories that they killed many small baby boys and the thoughts make me shutter and cry. Why are people so cruel? And why do they fear the weak and the neediest? I want to live my life caring for the vulnerable, like this little one here with me but also like the girl out on the street. That is who God always sends us to, isn't it?
Love always,
Mary
Dear Aunt Elizabeth,
There are some days that make me pause and wonder. Many things are going so well, but there are moments when I so wish to be home with the safe and familiar. There was a pregnant woman begging on the street near where we are housed. She is not allowed in anyone's home and the wise women tell me she is an outcast and we should avoid her at all costs. She is not too much older than I am but she has been with a married man. I ache for her as I know how people treated me at home when they thought I had done bad things. I think she is due very soon. I have bundled up some food and things for her since we seem to have much. I will take it to her under cover of darkness so as not to upset any of the local folks. They have been so kind to us and have made us a temporary home among them. Why is the world so harsh and people so willing to tear others down?
I am beginning to think we will never get back home. Rumors swirl about trouble for any young boys born locally. I have hear stories that they killed many small baby boys and the thoughts make me shutter and cry. Why are people so cruel? And why do they fear the weak and the neediest? I want to live my life caring for the vulnerable, like this little one here with me but also like the girl out on the street. That is who God always sends us to, isn't it?
Love always,
Mary
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