Handiwork of the Devil

~~~ Deuteronomy 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 ~~~ 

~~~ Psalm 23 ~~~ John 8:1-11 ~~~

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; 

for you are at my side.

The two stories from these readings

 so beautifully complement one another.

The first reading features Susanna, 

who was wrongfully accused of adultery.

Her accusers were ready to pick up their stones 

and pummel her to death with them.

She was definitely plunged into the dark valley.

Two men came forward claiming they had seen 

her in the garden with another man. 

Ultimately they were proven to be lying

when questioned by Daniel

 by their own conflicting information.

If you decide to lie you risk the power of truth.

If you lie you eventually erode more

 and more good from your heart. 

These two accusers lost touch with how their lies 

would impact their own lives.

God came to the side of Susanna;

she was found innocent.

Deception is always the handiwork of the devil.
Deception by design masks truth and beauty.

Deception is like taking a black marker and scribbling
 on something that would otherwise be clear.

The gospel brings us the woman caught in adultery.
She is thrown down into the dirt right at the feet of Jesus.
These accusers claim to have caught her in the act.

While we know their goal was to trick Jesus
we do not know if they were hiding half of the truth.

What if they set up this woman?
Could they have paid a man to seduce her
for the prime purpose of catching her in the 'act'? 

Unlike Susanna this nameless woman
was brought directly to Jesus.
He was to be her judge.
He was the one who would pass the
judgement for her to be stoned.

Her accusers were not expecting Jesus
 to turn the tables on them.

Instead giving the green light for this poor woman
 to be stoned to death he writes in the sand.

Whatever Jesus wrote in the sand that day resulted
in the elders quickly and quietly turning away.

Suddenly they no longer wanted
to stick around for the customary stoning.

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; 

for you are at my side.

This woman too was walking in the dark valley.
She too feared for her life as she knelt in the dirt.
She trembled with anticipation of the
first stone to pelt her bare skin.

Instead she heard the voice of Jesus...
"Let the one among you who is without sin 
be the first to throw a stone at her."

Who among you is without sin?

As we approach Holy Week I invite you to take
one last examination of conscience.

Maybe you can hold a stone and meditate
on the words of Jesus from this Gospel.

Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

From now on do not sin any more...
it is never too late to begin again.
Jesus offers words of mercy and encouragement.

Jesus walks in the dark valley with you.
He is slow to anger abundant in grace.
You are never alone.

~~~Peace~~~

Who Has Possession of You

~~~Fifth Sunday of Lent~~~

~~~Isaiah 43:16-21 ~~Psalm 126~~ Philippians 3:8-14~~John 8:1-11~~~

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

'...I am doing something new!'

'...I continue my pursuit in hope...

...I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus.' 

Isaiah, Paul, and the psalmist are each expressing the feelings and sentiment 

of the woman in today's Gospel story.

The woman caught in adultery was violently dragged 

and thrown at the feet of Jesus.

Jesus could have joined in and condemned her along with the others;

after all if she was guilty she was a sinner.

But instead Jesus uses this opportunity to teach us 

about his capacity to forgive.

He shows us his unconditional love for this woman 

by inviting us to look at ourselves.

“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”

He gives her accusers permission to punish this woman; 

but then he does something very curious,

he looks down and begins writing in the sand.

What he wrote in the sand that day was never recorded for us to know.

Imagine the fear racing throughout this poor woman's body 

as she awaits her condemnation.

But instead not one man picks up a stone,

rather they sheepishly turn and walk away in silence.

...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.” 

This woman could sing with the psalmist...

the Lord has down great things for me...

I am filled with joy.

He did something new for her...

he forgave her instead of condemning her.

He gave her a reason to have hope once again.

Perhaps she had been hopeless by her lifestyle for many years.

Jesus did indeed take possession of her heart, mind, 

body, and soul through his loving compassion.

Jesus saved her from a painful humiliating experience.

His simple words and actions diffused the entire situation.

The woman caught in adultery was the beneficiary of God's love.

The Lord has indeed done great things for each of us.

Remember them and be filled with joy.

Go, sin no more...

continue to live in hope.

Let Christ Jesus take possession of your

 mind, body, and soul.

The Lord is kind and merciful

 and we should be also.