April 7 Lenten Devotional "None Without Sin"

OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen

LISTEN. . .When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.  At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:7-11)

CONSIDER. . .Do you remember the international outrage that occurred a few years ago when Iran sentenced a woman to be stoned to death because she had committed adultery?  A European Union official called it "barbaric", but an Iranian spokesperson said it was about punishing a criminal--not a human rights issue.  Many of us are unaware of the discrimination and violence against women that still exists today in many parts of the world, even our own. Jesus challenged the establishment of his day, and we need to do the same.

"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her", and then turning to the woman, said, "go and sin no more".

SO WHAT. . .From Pope Francis recently. . . "I think even we are sometimes like these people who on the one hand want to listen to Jesus. . .but on the other hand, sometimes we like to stone others and condemn others. The message of Jesus is this: mercy."

The first one set free by God's mercy was not the adulterous women, but the first elder to drop the stones from his clenched hands.  We are all sinners. . .Jesus invites this woman to begin a new life as a free woman.

• Can you see yourself as the elder holding the stones in your clenched fists?
• Who are you getting ready to stone for their sins?
• Are you the woman feeling condemned for past sins?
• Will you accept the forgiveness that Jesus brings to you and offers to you freely?

PRAYER. . . Dear God, help me to recognize when I am the one standing, holding the stones clenched in my fists. Help me to release those stones and admit that I am also a sinner. Help me to accept the forgiveness that you give and show me opportunities to forgive others. Amen