be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Let's drop our stones. We are not guiltless ourselves. Much less are we in any position to condemn anyone else.
By ourselves way cannot escape from the events of the past and the things of long ago. We can ignore and try to forget them. But that does not make them any less real. We see the signs and symptoms of this when we condemn others for their faults in self-righteousness just as the Pharisees condemn the adulterous woman.
But you, LORD Jesus, can truly separate us from our sinful past.
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
We have to come to terms with the fact that we do not have any righteousness of our own based on the law, just as Saint Paul recognizes. When we accept this we allow ourselves to be conformed to your death so that the resurrection, the new thing you are doing, may completely obliterate our sin and selfishness.
[ Today's Readings ]
Being conformed to this death includes coming to you for mercy. It includes admitting the wrongs we do and receiving your forgiveness. As for the adulterous woman this might be very difficult. It means owning up to who we've been.
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
Your mercy is the river that springs forth in the desert, the torrents in the southern desert. We sow in tears because of our failings and sin. But we reap rejoicing because of your mercy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
It isn't an all-at-once sort of thing, necessarily. You call us to make a break with the old sinful self more and more day by day. You continue to call us onward and upward.
Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind
but straining forward to what lies ahead,
I continue my pursuit toward the goal,
the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.
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