Reading I
Is 43:16-21
Thus says the LORD,
who opens a way in the sea
and a path in the mighty waters,
who leads out chariots and horsemen,
a powerful army,
till they lie prostrate together, never to rise,
snuffed out and quenched like a wick.
Remember not the events of the past,
the things of long ago consider not;
see, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the desert I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
Wild beasts honor me,
jackals and ostriches,
for I put water in the desert
and rivers in the wasteland
for my chosen people to drink,
the people whom I formed for myself,
that they might announce my praise.
Reading II
Phil 3:8-14
Brothers and sisters:
I consider everything as a loss
because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things
and I consider them so much rubbish,
that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
not having any righteousness of my own based on the law
but that which comes through faith in Christ,
the righteousness from God,
depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection
and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death,
if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
It is not that I have already taken hold of it
or have already attained perfect maturity,
but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it,
since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, I for my part
do not consider myself to have taken possession.
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.
Gospel
Jn 8:1-11
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“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?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
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 any more.”
Meditation: John 8:1-11
You are running late, so your right foot steps hard on the gas pedal as you run the red light. Suddenly, lights begin flashing in your rearview mirror as a police car comes up behind you. As you try to collect your thoughts, you pray that the officer will show you mercy. And as if miraculously, he cites you with only a warning and lets you go your way.
Sometimes we view the scribes and Pharisees in today’s Gospel reading as police officers who enforced the law with no mercy—the exact opposite of the officer described above who was kind and lenient. If that’s how we view these religious leaders, it would be only natural for us to imagine them walking away from this scene disappointed. But let’s imagine another possibility.
Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone. (John 8:7) Jesus had just hinted that he knew all their sins, but he didn’t call them out. Instead, he treated them with the same mercy that he showed to the adulterous woman. One by one, they walked away. Perhaps some of them were struck by Jesus’ fairness and calm. Maybe some even began to follow him. Maybe there were genuine conversions that day, all because of mercy.
We are all sinners, and we all deserve condemnation. Because of God’s undying love, we have all been spared condemnation. According to the Law of Moses, that woman should have died. But Jesus set her free. Today, he is waiting to set you free as well. So gaze at the cross and marvel at the mercy of God. With all the gratitude you can muster, confess that you have been spared judgment and have been given the promise of eternal life! And if you want to throw a stone at another person, even if they deserve it, try to let it go, knowing that Jesus will never throw one at you.
“Thank you, Jesus, for the mercy and grace that you have given me. Father, let these truths mold my heart today, so that I can share that mercy and compassion with everyone I meet.”
Questions for Individual Reflection or Group Discussion
Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126:1-6, Philippians 3:8-14, John 8:1-11
1. In the first reading, God tells us of all the new and wonderful things he has done for the people he has formed “that they might announce my praise.” During the day are you more inclined to periodically turn to God and give him thanks and praise or ignore him? What practical steps can you take to help you to turn to the Lord more often during the day?
2. The response to the Responsorial Psalm is “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” How would you describe some of the “great things” the Lord has done for you?
3. The Responsorial Psalm also speaks of the laughter and rejoicing which should be ours in Christ, not superficial giddiness but the joy of one who has experienced God’s love and touch in his life. During the day, would others say that is the kind of Christian you are? What are can you do during the day to fill it with more joy?
4. In the Second Reading, St. Paul told the Philippians that he considered everything a loss compared to knowing – that is experiencing - the touch of Christ in his life. He also said he considered everything as rubbish, compared to gaining Christ and being found in him. Why do you think Paul was able to say these things? Are you able to say the same thing based on your own experience of Jesus Christ? Why or why not?
5. St. Paul also says that while he may not have eternal life yet, nevertheless, he has been taken possession of by Christ? What can you do to allow Christ to take greater ownership of your life?
6. In the familiar Gospel, Jesus offers love and forgiveness in contrast to those who seek only “justice” and the law. In what ways is your attitude one of wanting mercy from God for yourself, but “justice” for everyone else? Are you the first to cast the stone? How can you make love and mercy for others the hallmark of your life?
7. The meditation ends with these words: “We are all sinners, and we all deserve condemnation. Because of God’s undying love, we have all been spared condemnation. According to the Law of Moses, that woman should have died. But Jesus set her free. Today, he is waiting to set you free as well. So gaze at the cross and marvel at the mercy of God. With all the gratitude you can muster, confess that you have been spared judgment and have been given the promise of eternal life! And if you want to throw a stone at another person, even if they deserve it, try to let it go, knowing that Jesus will never throw one at you.” What do these words mean to you? Take some time now to pray for yourself, and others close to you, that you and they would forgive others as the Lord has forgiven you. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.
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