Neither Do I Condemn You

Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 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. Now what do you say?’ They 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. When 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.’ And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She 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

Throwing stones was a very common punishment for misdeeds. We don't practice stoning now, but we do often throw verbal stones, criticisms and judgments which wound and destroy people. We quickly judge and shun, even though we all have committed the similar mistakes and failings. We separate ourselves from those who are different and from those whose lifestyles differ from ours. Yet Jesus, didn't let the stones be thrown. He found a way to make the accusers walk away. And, he finds ways to free us from the judgment of others. When we live forgiven, that forgiveness is for everyone, freely given, always a gift from God.

Wondrous Creator, source of all healing

you call us to seek your forgiveness

so that we can in turn forgive others

and live out the love you shower on us.

We enjoy criticizing and condemning

despite the pain we have endured

we ask for forgiveness and don't forgive.

torn apart by our own bitter rivalries.

Help us Lord to admit to our faults

and move quickly to forgiving others

helping your love to blossom again

filling our world with places of welcome. Amen.