Fifth Sunday of Lent

Dear Friends,

This week's Gospel presents a dramatic confrontation: a woman brought before Jesus, accused of adultery. The scribes and Pharisees, seeking to trap Jesus, force Him into a judgment. But "Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger" (John 8:6). Why this pause?

As college students, we might not face this exact situation, but we wrestle with our own "stones": lust, dishonesty, addiction, the pressure to cheat, the temptation of excessive drinking. When we fall, and especially when we're exposed, the shame can feel overwhelming. We, too, might find ourselves looking at the ground, unable to meet the gaze of those we respect.

Jesus' action is key. He doesn't meet their gaze either, initially. He goes to her level, writing in the dust where she can see Him. He meets us where we are, whether we come to Him freely or are dragged there by circumstance.

Verse 7 is crucial: "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." The truth lands heavily: "They went away, one by one, beginning with the elders." We all fall short. Celebrities, leaders, friends, family, all of us. Jesus, alone, is sinless, yet He offers not condemnation, but a challenge: "Go, and do not sin again." This isn't a license to sin, assuming easy forgiveness. True repentance, a changed heart, is essential. Sin is real. It hurts God, like a friend's betrayal damages trust. Lust objectifies, diminishing the beauty of human dignity. It's like receiving a carefully chosen gift and treating it carelessly, missing its intended beauty.

Jesus teaches us to extend the same mercy we crave. We're called to hold each other accountable, yes, but with agape – a love that wills the good of the other. This is uncomfortable, but necessary, because we can't fully receive mercy without acknowledging our need for it. God's mercy is infinite. He meets us in our mess, guiding us toward the right path. He loves us, believing we are worthy of that love. Let us accept His mercy, and in turn, offer it to others.

Cameron Wilson, Drexel Student and Bible Study Leader