Gotcha!
A reading for Wednesday, December 10, 2014: John 7:53-8:11.
The law was given, in part at least, to demonstrate to us what it looks like to live in community with others. We don't steal, or kill, because that would certainly make it harder to live together with other people. Perhaps that sounds obvious...
Those wishing to stone the woman caught in adultery don't care about her and they don't seem to really care about the law. They are simply trying to catch Jesus, to trap him. Gotcha! It's no better observance of the law than the woman caught in adultery. It certainly isn't demonstrating anything about faithful community.
Jesus won't play along. “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” None will of course. Jesus has changed the conversation again, refusing to play their gotcha game since that will not lead anyone to life and the abundance of community.
How about us? Our observance of faith isn't just personal piety or a ticket to get to heaven. The way we act and the certainly the way we treat others affects the whole community. Gotcha games don't get us anywhere. Perhaps that sounds obvious...
If we have fallen short, then hear the words of Jesus again. "Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
The law was given, in part at least, to demonstrate to us what it looks like to live in community with others. We don't steal, or kill, because that would certainly make it harder to live together with other people. Perhaps that sounds obvious...
Those wishing to stone the woman caught in adultery don't care about her and they don't seem to really care about the law. They are simply trying to catch Jesus, to trap him. Gotcha! It's no better observance of the law than the woman caught in adultery. It certainly isn't demonstrating anything about faithful community.
Jesus won't play along. “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” None will of course. Jesus has changed the conversation again, refusing to play their gotcha game since that will not lead anyone to life and the abundance of community.
How about us? Our observance of faith isn't just personal piety or a ticket to get to heaven. The way we act and the certainly the way we treat others affects the whole community. Gotcha games don't get us anywhere. Perhaps that sounds obvious...
If we have fallen short, then hear the words of Jesus again. "Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
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