In this gospel, the elders of Jerusalem try to find a reason to condemn Jesus. They bring a woman before him who was caught in the act of adultery, and remind Jesus that if a woman commits adultery, then she is to be stoned. Jesus, instead of saying anything, tells the crowd, "Let the one who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Gradually, everyone leaves and no one throws any stones, for they know that they are all sinners. The woman is not condemned.
The elders, when approaching Jesus, are searching for a reason to condemn him. Jesus does not give them that chance. He allows the people to decide for themselves what is right.
When people try to force us to do something that is wrong, we cannot allow those people to get the best of us. We have to trust our hearts and our God, and do what is right, no matter the consequences.
St. John Paul II High School & St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School
