Neither do I condemn you - Monday, April 11th

Readings of the Day

Gospel: John 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.”

• alone: separate or apart from others; considered without reference to any other
• Am I ever like the scribes and Pharisees who bring others' sins before God wanting judgment to be served?  Do I not see that Christ deals with sinners on an INDIVIDUAL basis?  Does that give me greater confidence to confess my sins to Him, albeit through a priest who acts "in persona Christi"?  Do I really believe that confession is a PERSONAL encounter with Christ Himself?
• go: to leave a place, depart; to take a certain course or follow a certain procedure; to move on a course
• How does Jesus' reaction affect me - He doesn't admonish the woman, He indicates that she needs to leave the place (attitudes, values) she's been in, move in a new direction?  Do I see that His forgivess is full of encouragement, not shame?  Do I forgive others this way?  How can I instill this mindset in my children - to focus more on changes moving forward than revisiting past sins?
• now: at the present time or moment; under the present circumstances; without further delay
• Do I see that Christ does want His forgiveness to take an immediate effect?  What changes that I need to make to be more Christ-like am I putting off until later?

Definitions from http://www.merriman-webster.com/ and http://www.dictionary.com/.