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Daily Reflection - September 21, 2023
Adapted from "Our Daily Bread"

John 8:1-11 (New Catholic Bible)

A Woman Caught in Adultery. [7:53Then each of them returned home. 1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At daybreak he entered the temple courts, and all the people gathered around him. He sat down and began to teach them.

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3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in adultery. Forcing her to stand in their midst, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. What do you have to say?”

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6 They asked him this question as a test so that they could bring a charge against him. Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they continued to persist in their question, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he again bent down and wrote on the ground.

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9 When they heard his response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” “Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus said. “Go on your way, and sin no more.”]

 

Reflection

Jesus offers us a means to cope with our sin that is far more significant and powerful—complete forgiveness rather than just a band-aid solution. A tale of a lady who was caught in adultery at the beginning of John 8 provides a nice illustration of this. The legal scholars urged Jesus to act to atone for the woman's transgressions. The law demanded that she be stoned, but Christ didn't care what the law said or didn't say. Simply stating that everyone has sinned, Jesus urged those who hadn't to "throw a stone at" the woman. No rocks were thrown.

 

What fresh chapter has been written in your life as a result of Jesus and the forgiveness He offers? How will this affect how you handle people who have committed sins too?

Pray

Please accept my gratitude for pardoning my sins, Jesus. A new life in You is what I need; please help me.  Amen

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