His Mercy

“’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 anymore.’”  (John 8:4-9)

The Law of Moses. In the Old Testament we often see God portrayed as vengeful, striking down those who sin against him. We see a focus on the Law and those self-righteous men who see themselves as better than others. But we know that it is not about just following the rules, we have to have a conversion in our hearts. In yesterday’s first reading we heard Jeremiah speak about the injustices done to him and he asks God, “Let me witness the vengeance you take on them.” (Jeremiah 11:20) How often do we feel the same? We want to witness our enemy having the tables turned and witness them being subjected to the same hurt that they inflicted on us or maybe even worse. We have that mentality of an eye for an eye. But this is no longer the way to deal with hurt. In today’s first reading we hear, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see I am doing something new!” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

God is loving and merciful and he calls us to be the same. So often we point out the small faults of others, their splinter, while we refuse to look at our own faults, the beam in our own eye.  During his homily last night the priest gave us a beautiful image of the scribes and Pharisees in today’s gospel. They are like lepers who cover their sores with the silk of righteousness while they cast stones at others. We need to look at our own hearts and ask for God’s healing. We need to acknowledge our own sinfulness and ask for God’s mercy. And as we journey together, we need to help one another by showing the same mercy that God shows to us each and every day, to one another. In today’s gospel, Jesus allowed the adulterous woman “to rediscover her own self in the silent love with which he enveloped her, he delivered her from the judgment of her accusers, scattering them with the voice of their own conscience.”  ~Fr. Maurice Zundel