Early in the morning Jesus 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. 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.”
(from New Revised Standard Version)
The Scribes and the Pharisees have set a trap for Jesus, whatever sentence he pronounces on this woman he will be in the wrong. If he lets her go he breaks the Law of Moses (by which the Hebrew people lived) and if he upholds this law, then he breaks the Roman law because the Romans would not allow Jews to carry out death sentences. Either way he is in the wrong. Jesus’ solution is to ask each of her accusers to examine themselves and their conscience. In the light of this they gradually leave the scene, and Jesus commands her to sin no more.
All too often we are keen to criticize or punish others, while ignoring our own sin. As a society we seem to relish the blame game, and ignore our own mistakes and faults. Putting ourselves right with God requires us to be honest about ourselves this Lent.
Lord Jesus, you know our weaknesses,
forgive us for the negative thoughts we have about others,
the times we make snap decisions based on gossip,
or are too quick to believe in fake news.
Help us to appreciate the goodness in people,
especially at this time of crisis,
and to be thankful for all that others are doing
for us and to help their neighbours.
Amen.