The adulterous woman

Good morning, happy Thursday and many blessings. 

In John 8:11, Jesus tells an adulterous woman, "Go, and sin no more." This account of the adulterous woman forgiven by Jesus is masterful; it contains many teachings. First, the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees stands out. A condemning, hypocritical and malicious attitude against women and against Jesus: “Master, this woman has been caught in blatant adultery. Moses commands us in the law to stone these women. What do you say? They asked him this to set him up and to accuse him. " However, they are exposed; in reality they were also involved in sin: "Those of you who has no sin, throw the first stone at her ... Upon hearing those words, the accusers began to slip away ...". We must be vigilant and not fall into this same attitude of the scribes and Pharisees: see the mistakes of others and not realize our serious sins.

The Gospel closes with a sign of Jesus' merciful forgiveness and with a clear and firm exhortation to this woman: “Neither do I condemn you. Go away and never sin again.” Let us enjoy this experience of the goodness of God, always ready to forgive us, but let us not forget that God does not want us to sin. That woman found in Christ the best defender, the most merciful judge in the history of all peoples of all time. Christ is goodness.

In contrast, hearts hardened by formalism do not know how to forgive and grow old contemplating the letter of the law. Christ puts into practice, with his attitude of forgiveness, the same teaching of his parable of the prodigal son: “Woman, where are those who accused you? Has no one condemned you?” She replied: "No one, sir." And he replied: “I do not condemn you either. Go away and never sin again.” Whoever had come trembling with fear, with the anguish of being possibly condemned and stoned, has found life there, in Jesus.

Blessings

Luis +