Who Am I To Judge
Monday in the Fifth Week of Lent
My dear encountered couples:
Our first reading concerns the case of a young, married woman accused of adultery. The case was heard, the testimony given, the jury pronounced Susanna guilty. We are told that “As she was being led to execution God stirred up a young boy named Daniel” who opened the judges eyes to what really happened. The truth came out, it was her accusers who were proven guilty, Susanna was acquitted of the crime and set free.
It leaves us wondering how many people are judged guilty due to false testimony being given.
The gospel reading tells us of a woman who actually did commit adultery. She had been caught in the very act and she didn’t deny it. The scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus for him to judge her. “Moses ordered such women to be stoned,” they reminded him. “What do you have to say about the case?”
We know what he did. “Jesus simply bent down and traced on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in their questioning, he straightened up and said, ‘Let the man among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone at her. And they drifted away one by one until Jesus and the woman were left standing alone.”
One reading tells us to be sure we have all the facts before judging anyone, the other advises mercy. Why? Because we are all sinners who will someday be judged. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
