Rocks

And Jesus went unto mount Olivet. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him, and sitting down he taught them. And the scribes and the Pharisees bring unto him a woman taken in adultery: and they set her in the midst, and said to him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery. Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest thou? And this they said tempting him, that they might accuse him. But Jesus bowing himself down, wrote with his finger on the ground. When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again stooping down, he wrote on the ground. But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee? Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.
John 8:1-11 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father we are the opposite of this reading. We pick up huge rocks and fling them at our neighbors on a daily basis. No matter what the sin, we are always perpetually reminded of them and not forgiven them. We know how truly wrong it is to sin, yet our world has deemed it okay to do it. How often we see it when we watch the television, one doesn't have to physically do the act in order to commit it. So why are we who are sinners always throwing stones at our neighbors for theirs? Jesus is the one without sin, and yet he forgave and didn't condemn but went on to tell this person to sin no more. Isn't that what we should be doing also, seeking forgiveness of our own sins and looking to not sinning anymore. Not judging others and flinging rocks at them as if we were without sin. Shame on us when we do this. Dear Father it is with hope that we find forgiveness in such a loving way as Jesus dealt with this woman in the reading today. That we too will seek the gift of reconciliation and come to not continue sinning as we so often do.