Writing in the Sand

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

I grew up by the ocean and actually love sand. It is part of life for us. Digging, building castles and writing in the sand were daily activities. Sand was everywhere and we took it home in our bathing suits, our shorts, in our towels, in our hair and on our feet. When we would visit my parents in the summer, my daughters would put sand in their pockets when we were leaving to remind them of life at the ocean. The gift of sand is that the water washes everything away a high tide, and we can start over the next day. The religious leaders brought a woman before Jesus who they were planning to stone. Whatever Jesus wrote made them run away and after they left, he forgave her. What a story for our times. As fingers are pointed in high places, let us remember we can focus on other peoples' sin, and not admit to our own darkness. 

Loving Creator, into all life is renewal

you forgive us when we come to you

and you send us on our way with love.

We want life to be easy and s as we please

meanwhile we like to condemn others

and fail to see the wickedness within us.

Lord Jesus, heal us and send us on our way

reminding us that forgiveness means to sin no more 

and help us not to condemn others but to only love. Amen.