The story from John's gospel best known as 'The Woman caught in Adultery' (John 8: 1-11) teaches us so much about how gracious God is and reminds us that "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that through him the world might be saved" (John 3: 17).
On an individual and personal level, as Fr Patrick van der Vorst puts it, "When the Lord looks at us He sees the complete picture, not just isolated flaws or mistakes. He does not dwell on a few dark moments but embraces the fulness of our journey. The Lord understands that our lives are not defined by a single chapter but are an unfolding story, still being written, full of the potential for redemption and renewal."
(See Christian Art, below.)
Christ and the Sinner, by Andrey Mironov
Public domain
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30518018
Today's gospel reading John 8: 1-11 |
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At that time: Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’ And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’
Christian Art
You can listen to or read a reflection on this gospel here:
https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-8-1-11-2025/
Sacred Space
You can find a gentle aid to prayer with a short reflection here:
https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-04-06/ |
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