Go, (and) from now on do not sin anymore

MONDAY 30 MARCH (Jn 8,1-11)

In truth, what today takes place in the temple of Jerusalem again manifests only the wisdom of Jesus in preventing the woman from being stoned. As for doctrine and truth of salvation, everything had already been announced by his Father through his prophets. Ezekiel shines of the purest light for this doctrine: “But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord God. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. And yet the house of Israel says, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Is it my way that is not fair, house of Israel, or rather, is it not that your ways are not fair? Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord God. Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord God. Return and live! ” (Ez 18,21-32). No one is allowed to use this episode to diminish the destructive force of sin and the consequences of evil that it generates and produces. The truth obliges everyone.

While 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.”

This episode must teach us to use all our wisdom and intelligence, in the Holy Spirit, in order to avoid that we can rage against the sinner. Sin is possible. The flesh generates sin and death. Grace generates life and blessing. On the one hand Jesus shows that all are sinners and that they themselves need the mercy of his Father in order not to be stoned to death for eternity in the fire of hell. When all go away, he manifests to the woman all the mercy of his Father. The grace of forgiveness is not to continue to sin, but to never sin again for ever. Instead those who use this episode to diminish sin and almost make it seem like a nothingness, are in great error. Sin is eternal death. Every sin adds eternal death to eternal death. Better to be stoned to death with stones on earth and atone for the sins committed, than to be stoned to death with eternal fire and condemned without any possibility of salvation. If we want to act with the same wisdom and truth of Jesus, we must also live in the bosom of the Father’s love and in the light of the Holy Spirit. If we live in sin, we think from its foolishness.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, help us to act like Jesus: with wisdom and truth.