Sister Teresita Schaefbauer
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
The scribes and the Pharisees in today’s scripture reading brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle of the group. They thought she should be stoned.
Jesus knew that this woman had probably sinned; however, he was trying to get the point across to all who were present that we are all sinners at times. The only person we should be judging is ourselves. It is so easy to judge the sinfulness of others, and try to make it look like we have never sinned. We are already sinning if we are judging others. Everyone needs forgiveness and healing; and that is what the Church is for. That is why Jesus came on earth. He led the way for all of us. Jesus showed us how to love everyone, including the sinner. In a gentle way we can try to help those who have done wrong, realize that what they did was wrong. If we cannot do anything else to help them, we can still pray for them.
Lord, give me a soft heart, just like yours. You forgive all of my sins; help me to be just as generous as you are with showing mercy.
Amen.