1 Reading. Isaiah 43:16-2
2 Reading Philippians 3:8-14
Music - Mike Anderson - Hymn ; Praise The Lord
Gospel Reading - sundaygospel.co.uk John 8:1-11
There is an old definition of Charity that includes thinking the best of others and maybe giving the ‘benefit of the doubt’ in their favour. It has a special link with mercy and trying to be less judgemental or swift to condemn. It’s about slowing down, cooling our self-righteousness and not throwing the first stone. The Gospel for today presents us with the events surrounding the woman taken before Jesus to test him and shame her. When St Augustine of Canterbury wrote about this he made the comparison that Jesus is the perfect example of Mercy, compared to the accusers lack of compassion.These self- righteous officials are more concerned with trapping Jesus and their indignation seems contrived to make Jesus slip up so that they can charge him with some major error.Jesus responds in silence and then by writing on the ground asks them to spend a moment of self reflection. Did he write the words reported as spoken to them. “Let the sinless one among you be the first to throw a stone at her” . No one knows but it did result in the accusers performing an examination of conscience.
Deacon Tom Copyright © 2024
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