"Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last."
John 8:9 NKJV
Probably if you are at least my age you will remember that italian song whose title was "Stones" and the lyrics began like this:
"You are good and they throw stones at you.
You are bad and they throw stones at you
Whatever you do, wherever you go
You always stones in the face you will take ..."
Sadly, it is sad, but it has always been so and will be so as long as you live, as Antoine sang in 1967. And the gospel confirms this for us with the story of the adulterous woman, when at the crack of dawn Jesus goes to the temple, where a crowd joins him.
It is early in the morning when the scribes and Pharisees assess that this is a good opportunity "to test him, so that they can accuse him." How sad to go in search of the Lord to ask him the strangest questions, with no interest in the truth, but only to provoke arguments. Thus, they bring him a woman caught committing adultery. According to the Torah, the Mosaic Law, as they remind Jesus, "The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). In fact, the biblical law also provided for other transgressions that I am not going to list here the condemnation by stoning that took place outside the camp or the city. The witnesses to the accusation were required to throw the stone first (Deuteronomy 17:7).
Beyond the fact that we are early in the morning, one would wonder how they had caught this woman in the act. Were they all witnesses? Surely they were all ready to throw stones, since there was no doubt about the punishment, even if it was to be applied to the man not present as well. How many times does the biblical text lead one to believe what God wants and what needs to be done. Jesus evades the trick question and set about writing in the dust. No one knows what he was writing. But once prompted to respond, he stands up and invites the interlocutors to throw stones only if they are without sin. None of the men consider themselves net, and they all go away, leaving the woman with Jesus. Before the Master no one can raise accusations, even when there is evidence. He himself does not condemn, but rehabilitates. Jesus' words and the issue of no condemnation goes against the death penalty. To the accusers, the religious authorities, Jesus asks for more flexibility in judgment. Without argument or knee-jerk reaction, the Master temporizes and then calls his interlocutors to action. The Gospel account seems to tell us that no crime can be the subject of a capital sentence and that the possibility of recovery should never be ruled out. At the same time it would be necessary to go to the root causes of guilt, to understand the motivations, in order to intervene not to condemn but to recover.
It would come to ask, "How are you?" Perhaps like that woman you were surrounded, accused, with no chance to represent your reasons, or just tell your story. No one allowed you to tell your side of the story. Unfortunately, it is easier to throw stones to condemn what appears. Taking care of people, on the other hand, requires quite a different effort. Paul's words should be a constant reminder, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?" (Romans 2:1-3). We look to the One who was not sent to judge the world (John 3:17) but to save it (John 12:47). By virtue of His work, which also applies to you, before Him do not feel under accusation, but understand that you are the object of His infinite love. Therefore go and sin no more.
Weekly Bible Reading Plan # 34
August 19, Psalms 105-106; 1 Corinthians 3
August 20, Psalms 107-109; 1 Corinthians 4
August 21, Psalms 110-112; 1 Corinthians 5
August 22, Psalms 113-115; 1 Corinthians 6
August 23, Psalms 116-118; 1 Corinthians 7:1-19
August 24, Psalms 119:1-88; 1 Corinthians 7:20-40
August 25, Psalms 119:89-176; 1 Corinthians 8
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