Cast the first Stone?

  • ON: Mar 03, 2016
  • BY: Kelly

The basis of Christianity is love – not just loving those who love us, but expressing the sacrificial love of God to all, whether it’s comfortable or not.

One of my favorite stories in the bible is when a group of religious folk brings a woman who had caught in adultery to Jesus. Their motive was 100% to trap Jesus and condemn the woman. Interestingly enough the bible says she was caught “in the act,” which leaves me to believe they were watching. They justified their own sin by calling out hers and their self-righteous attitude severed their ability to see their glaring weakness. They brought her in and made her stand before the group, probably naked, in an attempt to humiliate and shame her. They were looking for validation of their hateful hearts and looking with eyes of the law instead of compassion.

“But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, if any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground.”

Love spoke, and love continues to speak 2000+ years later. Jesus laid out the two most significant commandments as loving God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbor as yourself.  The Son of God knelt in the dirt with the woman caught in sin, while others were repulsed and judged from a distance. Jesus touched her with love while others condemned her to death. With love, all things are possible. With love, destinies change. With love, people see God.

Reflection: Am I only loving those who love me?

Am I open to embrace love, or are my fingers wrapped too tightly around the stones?

Empty your pockets and throw away the stones!