Today is Day 18 of our Lenten Reflections on the gospel of John.  To receive our reflections, subscribe here. 

A Reflection on John 8:2-11

“No one, Lord.” (v 11a)

Silence. Only the sound of my quick, shallow breathing. The muffled thuds of stones being dropped to the ground. And as I open my eyes, still pointed to the ground, I can see pairs of feet turn, and slowly walk away. One pair remains. The sandaled toes point to me. I slowly raise my eyes to the ankles, the hem of the tunic, the knees bent to the ground, the finger resting in dirt next to Him. He looks up at me. He looks as no one ever has before. And I am hit with a wave of emotion: confused and ashamed and thrilled and amazed all at the same time. Who is He? What does he want with me?

He must be a holy man. Why else would the authorities take me to him? But I sensed something in them as they led me to Him, a suspicion, a deep jealousy. They do not want Him there any more than they want me there. We are both rejected. Yet this is the man to whom they turn to seal my fate? He is not like them. He does not answer their demand, but rather challenges them to play their own game. And He wins. And they walk away. And we are left alone.

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” He looks into my eyes as he asks this question and I can barely speak. I know that I was caught in my sin, that the law demands justice, that He knows that, too. But as I return His gaze, my shame melts away. The darkness in my heart that has made its home there for so long starts to give way, and Light breaks through. “No one, Lord,” I breathe out. He smiles the slightest smile, the smile of a shepherd who has just found his beloved lost sheep, and says “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.”

My Jesus, I am the woman caught in adultery. I have knowingly sinned against you and I come to you knowing that I deserve punishment even unto death. But you look on me with Love, and that Love changes me. Your Love makes me desire to never sin again. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.