Jn. 8: 1-11
A few years ago, when a journalist asked Pope Francis what was his stand towards homosexuals? His response was ‘who am I to judge them’? It became very viral because the response of the Holy Father was misinterpreted. In fact, he did not intent to justify their moral failure instead, who are we to judge the failures of our brethren? Especially, when we all struggle with our own weaknesses.
Today’s gospel passage leads us to examine our tendency of being judgmental towards others. Pharisees and scribes bring to Jesus, the woman who was caught in adultery. According to the Law of Moses, both the man and the woman who were engaged in the act of adultery should be stoned to death. Unfortunately, women became victims of this brutal act. In today’s passage, they could have stoned her to death then and there, but they wanted to find fault with Jesus to see whether he would follow the laws of Moses or protect the life of the woman? Jesus’ response was quite strange, the evangelist recorded that He started to write on the ground and exhorted them that one who had not sinned could stone her. Surprisingly, they left her one by one.
Jesus extends his unconditioned forgiveness to her and sends her in peace. Jesus did not compromise or justify her past. He clearly said to her to sin no more; it implies not to go back to her previous way of life; to start over. Jesus gives her a second chance. When we glance through the gospels, the gift of the second chance is very common. Jesus accepted the human fragility, he did not judge and condemn; rather he extended to the repentant sinner his compassion and forgiveness. In fact, this attitude of Jesus transforms almost all who came to him.
When we hear about someone’s moral failure, the first response is to stone them. But if we look deep within us we too can recognize our failures. It is the mercy of God that protects us from shame and it is his benevolence that guides us and above all, it is his grace that empowers us to face our weaknesses with hope. Like Jesus, before judging anyone, let us look at them through the eyes of Jesus.