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A daily Lenten e-mail with lessons of hope and courage, inspired by a variety of resources to encourage us in these confusing and turbulent times from St. Luke’s Church, Lebanon.

Monday - Fifth Week in Lent

In the gospel lesson appointed for this day, we hear Jesus say, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

Jesus speaks this powerful line as the judgmental and condemning Pharisees brought forward a woman who had apparently been caught in adultery. The question for Jesus was not whether she was a sinner. Rather, for Jesus the problem was the self-righteous, judgmental and condemning attitude of the Pharisees.

This woman was suffering terrible humiliation at the hands of religious leaders. Indeed, she had sinned. She did not deny it. Instead, she waited for her punishment with what must have been a sorrowful heart.

Humiliation over one’s sins is a powerful experience that has the potential to bring forth true repentance. However, that humiliation needs to arise from within. This we call shame. Humiliation itself is imposed by others. It is a form of violence. It denies the inherent dignity of the human person that arises out of the image of God that each person bears, regardless of how the person acts. Because of this dignity, someone who is "caught in sin" is not to be humiliated. Instead, they must be treated with compassion. Why? Because their dignity supersedes their sin.

Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and every person deserves compassion. If one is obstinate and refuses to see their sin (like the Pharisees), then an act of holy rebuke or what we call a godly admonition is necessary to help them repent. Humiliation and this compassion are totally incompatible and are not part of our life in God.

By saying, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” Jesus does not justify her sin. Rather, Jesus makes clear that no one holds the right to condemn – this belongs to God alone.

No one. Not even religious leaders have the right to humiliate others. This is a hard teaching for many in our hyper opiniated world. It has become commonplace for headlines to present us with the most sensational sins of others. We are constantly tempted to be outraged at what this or that person has done. We easily shake our heads, condemn them and treat them as if they were dirt. In fact, it seems that many people today see it as their duty to act as the “watchdogs” of righteousness against every sin pin on others.

Today, take a moment to reflect upon whether your attitudes are more akin to those of the Pharisees or to those of Jesus. Put yourself in the scene and ask if you would you have stood there wanting this humiliated woman to be stoned? When you hear about the manifest misdeeds of others, do you find yourself wanting to condemn them? Or do you pray and hope that mercy is shown to them? Where is compassion in your dealing with others that may not "measure up"? Pray that you might increasingly imitate the compassionate heart of Christ.