This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, April 3rd is from John 8:1-11
“…the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to [Jesus], ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger…and said to them, ‘Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And, in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders…Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She replied, ‘No one, sir.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.’”
“The Pharisees cite Moses in defending their plan to stone the woman caught in adultery. The law was based on the commandments, presented by Moses to the people on a pair of stone tablets. Stone—hard, dense, and unyielding—anchored their sense of justice. Jesus pointed to a better way. He did so by writing on the ground. Instead of chiseled in stone, rigid and permanent, his words were traced in the dirt, unsubstantial and erasable. The dirt recalls the ashes applied to our foreheads a month ago, a fleeting reminder of our sinfulness, easily washed away. Jesus’ gift of forgiveness washes away her sin.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Spring 2022
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DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; John 8:12-20
Tuesday Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30
Wednesday Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95; John 8:31-42
Thursday Genesis 17:3-9; John 8:51-59
Friday Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42
Saturday Ezekiel 37:21-28; John 11:45-56
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“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12