Neither do I condemn you

 Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C - 3rd April 2022

Gospel John 8: 1–11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everyone, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one sir,’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus, ‘go away, and don’t sin any more’.

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

Like Jesus before me, I consciously slow down in preparation for this  me of prayer. I become more aware of my life-giving breath, and invite Jesus to breathe with me, through me ... to fill me with the Holy Spirit.

I read this striking Gospel slowly, a couple of times, allowing myself to get immersed in this incident in Jesus’s life. I ask that God’s living word might speak to me anew about the inclusive, non-judgemental Way of Christ.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I stop ‘being in charge’ and invite God to use my imagination. I take in the scene: the frightened, ashamed woman; the conniving scribes and Pharisees; the mood of the watching crowd ... and the figure and presence of Jesus in the centre.

If I can, I allow my ‘inner eye’ to deepen my understanding and experience of the forgiving nature of Jesus and his Father.

No matter the circumstances of my own life, I try to be open to Jesus’s loving gaze, and speak with him about what arises.

When I am ready, I give thanks to God for his boundless mercy.

Glory be ...