This Sunday’s gospel reading presents the familiar but always remarkable episode of the woman caught in adultery – and Jesus’ amazing response.
It’s worth appreciating anew the brilliance of Christ’s response – which is representative of all of Christ’s interactions. Jesus was always pitch-perfect. Even while cloaked in His humanity the radiance of His divinity and wisdom shines through.
There’s an old Calvin and Hobbes cartoon where someone at school insults Calvin, who then calls after them – “Oh yeah?!! Well, in 15 minutes, I’ll have a blistering response.”
Most of us can relate.
In our follow-up emails we’ll look at how we can better model and tap into Christ’s ability to navigate any situation with grace.
Blessings on your journey with Christ –
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life
Postscript: The Woman Caught in Adultery (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.”