Get Together

Psalm 38 • Psalm 119:25-48
Isa. 6:1-13 • 2 Thess. 1:1-12 • John 7:53 - 8:11

In today’s gospel reading a group of scribes and Pharisees bring a woman to Jesus. They say she has been caught in adultery. In an attempt to test Jesus, they ask him, “Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say?” At first Jesus bends down and begins writing in the ground with his finger. When they kept questioning him, he finally stood up and said to them those iconic words we all know: Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.

I think Jesus is pointing out more than just that the woman is wrong for adultery and the men are wrong for wanting to stone her to death. Or even that we are all sinners.

The stoning of the accused woman comes out of centuries of exclusion and the evil it perpetuates.

The scribes and Pharisees, trying to stay in control, are exercising the laws that allow them to hold onto power and domination even if it’s evil.

At this point in our nation’s history Jesus’ words are more important than ever. Maybe our goal should be not to figure out who is the most wrong – that’s not getting us anywhere near the kingdom of God. Our goal, now more than ever, should be reconciliation. I’m not sure how we, as nation, will get there, and we have a really long way to go; but I take great hope and solace in all the ways that our beloved St. Paul’s works without ceasing, determined to help get us there.

Oh, and since John doesn’t tell us what Jesus wrote in the ground while the scribes, Pharisees, and the frightened woman were left waiting for his answer. I think he might’ve written a prayer in the earth that blew across the centuries and landed in this song from The Youngbloods.

Written by Kathy McGregor

Kathy is a grateful Episcopalian.