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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. John 8:1–3
What a painful and humiliating experience this must have been for
this woman! Fortunately, the Savior of the World was there to care
for her and to help her navigate this situation through His
abundant mercy. Though she was a sinner, God’s mercy offered a
remedy for her sin and its consequences.
Interestingly, this story is not included in some of the most
ancient manuscripts of the Gospel of John. Saint Augustine believed
that it was excluded by some of the early copyists of this Gospel
because they were moral rigorists and were scandalized by the
depths of Jesus’ mercy. They feared that if this incredible act of
mercy was conveyed to others, it would lead to a relaxation of
moral rules.
The scribes and Pharisees who brought this woman to Jesus also
appeared to be scandalized by Jesus’ mercy. Thus, the depths of
mercy offered to this woman was one of many occasions in which
Jesus was merciful to a point that was hard for the people to
comprehend.
How about you? How far are you willing to go when it comes to
mercy? It is easy for us to resort to condemnation when we see the
sins of others. We might feel justified in condemning them and even
obliged to do so out of a desire to condemn sin itself. But Jesus’
action shows that the sin must not be equated with the sinner. Sin
must be condemned and was condemned by our Lord when He said to
this woman, “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” Though He
condemned her sin, he did not condemn her: “Neither do I
condemn you.”
The mercy of God is incomprehensible. For example, recall that
Jesus cried out from the Cross, “Father, forgive them, they know
not what they do.” Imagine the surprise that the first hearers of
those words would have had. How could this man ask that God forgive
the people who were murdering Him? Perhaps the only person who
truly understood this prayer of mercy from the Cross was Jesus’ own
mother as she stood there gazing at Him with love.
An important lesson for us to learn from Jesus’ depth of mercy is
that, at first, it will most likely scandalize us also. Mercy to
this extent is supernatural. It challenges our natural reason and
calls us to a new way of thinking and relating to others. The only
way to overcome the “scandal” we might feel in the face of God’s
mercy is to live it ourselves. Doing so will require that we put on
new eyes to see sin, mercy and forgiveness through the eyes of God.
If doing so shakes you to the core of your being, that might be a
good sign. Are you allowing the apparent scandal of God’s abundant
mercy to transform you so that it is no longer a shock or scandal
to you, but is experienced as good and holy and from the Heart of
our God?
Reflect, today, upon how deeply you understand God’s mercy. Do you
rejoice when mercy is offered to another? Or do you find yourself
condemning? Our Lord said, “Let the one among you who is without
sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” None of us are without
sin; therefore, none of us has the right to cast a stone at
another. Allow the apparent scandal of God’s mercy to challenge you
so that you come to not only understand God’s infinite mercy but
also to act as an instrument of that mercy to everyone.
Most merciful Lord, You came to call the sinner to repentance
and salvation. You offer mercy and forgiveness in superabundance.
When faced with the sins of others, help me to imitate Your love
for them and to show mercy and compassion to the greatest degree. I
love You, Lord. Help me to love You and others with Your Heart of
merciful love. Jesus, I trust in You.
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