John 8:1-11: Throwing Stones – Part II
Thursday, August 3, 2023
What tax or tithe do we surrender when we give in to the temptation to throw stones?
We prepare to meet friends and family and celebrate important events. We gather to worship, to play, to study, to learn or to work. We read news feeds, Twitter feeds and fact-check the information that often poses as fact. When we are overwhelmed by natural and human catastrophe, we look for wisdom and peace. We go to God’s Word.
Swarms of people came to Jesus. He sat down and taught them.
Societies are free to establish mores and codes of conduct; yet we ask if they are free to extinguish life without benefit of full and fair justice.
The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone.
Honor killings are a way of life in a number of cultures, among certain peoples. Like Jesus, we might gently ask who among us is without sin.
They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.”
Like Jesus, we might offer forgiveness rather than judgment, love rather than hate, an invitation rather than condemnation.
Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone.
At times we are the condemned woman, at times we are the hypocritical accusers, at times we are innocent victims of the unjust. In all cases we must respond as Jesus responds: Does no one condemn you? Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.
Throwing stones is a dangerous temptation. Throwing stones puts us in ambiguous positions. Throwing stones nurtures division and does not encourage understanding or inclusion. Today we reflect on the problem of honor killings as we determine to pray and work for an end to this violence.
For data, research reports, media articles and other information on honor-killings, click on the image above or visit the Honour Based Violence Awareness Network International Resource Center at: http://hbv-awareness.com/
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