Monday, March 18, 2024

Compassion Towards Sinners

 

 Jn 8:1-11

 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 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. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

The compassion Jesus shows towards sinners is sharply illustrated in his dealing with this woman. He doesn't condemn her, but forgives her and admonishes her to sin no more. We might keep this in mind as we go to confession during this Lenten season.  There is nothing to fear, nothing to avoid.  It's a needed cleansing, a logical step in our preparation for the renewal of our baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil or on Easter Sunday. If we have not done so already, let's make this a priority in the two remaining weeks of Lent.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, help me to find the desire and the time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter. Amen.

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