Casting Stones

This Sunday's gospel is one that always hits home for me, because of Jesus' call to forgiveness and humility. He tells the scribes and Pharisees who are circling the woman caught in adultery, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" John 8. Similarly, we can often be quick to judge others, while forgetting to focus on the one person we can change: ourselves.

In our present culture it would not be acceptable to stone someone for committing adultery. Although it is a grave and hurtful matter, we know that the sinner can be forgiven. While reflecting on this reading, I was reminded of the current sexual abuse accusations made about Catholic priests, which is once again being focused upon in the media. There is no question that horrible crimes have been committed, and that the victims deserve our prayers and help to rehabilitate from these dreadful events. At the same time however, we cannot ignore Jesus' teachings. In this gospel reading Jesus not only called the Pharisees to examine themselves before stoning the woman, but more importantly, He also forgave her.

Will we join the media and continue to condemn the Church? Like the adulteress woman who humbly accepted her sentence before Jesus, the Church and the pope have asked for forgiveness. Will we drop our stones and follow Jesus' example to accept the Church's apology?

As the season of lent draws to a close, we will soon reflect on the Last Supper. There, Jesus broke bread and washed the feet of all twelve of his disciples. He knew that his betrayer would be among them, but He loved them anyways. Let us pray for the healing of those who have been hurt by Church officials, and also for the conversion of those who committed the crimes. Let us be reminded that we are all sinners, and that Jesus himself calls for us to forgive. Let us pray for our Church, and remember not to abandon Peter because of what Judas did.