First reading: Is. 43:16–21

Thus says the LORD, who opens a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters, who leads out chariots and horsemen, a powerful army, till they lie prostrate together, never to rise, snuffed out and quenched like a wick. Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches, for I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink, the people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise.

Second reading: Phil. 3:8–14

Brothers and sisters: I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.

Gospel: Jn. 8:1–11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.

But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.

So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

In other words

by Fr. Patricio de los Reyes, SVD (Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City)

Many people who have encountered this Gospel text wonder what Jesus was writing on the ground. For me, it was Jesus’ tactic—a delaying tactic—to borrow time to think clearly how he would respond. I guess it is always wise to think first before opening one’s mouth.

His adherence and loyalty to Jewish law were tested. So, he must think well which he did. And when he answered, the people were surprised by his answer. No one was hurt or seemed to have felt insulted by his challenge. Instead, people sincerely and honestly looked into their hearts and souls and prevented themselves from judging and bringing death to someone. The adulterous woman would have died, not because of her crime but because of the wickedness of other people.

Jesus was loyal and obedient to the law but chose to put compassion above the law and to bring healing and reconciliation. That is why Jesus commanded, “Judge not and you will not be judged.” He taught his disciples to forgive so that God the Father would also forgive them.

Jesus was considered a subversive person, a rebel. He defied laws, not in a rebellious way but because they were biased and oppressive. Jesus was sincerely loyal to the law, especially the law of love. For Jesus, the beneficiary of the law is more important than the law itself, so he taught that the law is for man and not man for the law.

When a law confronts me, I should become introspective. I look at myself first before I look at others. That is why Jesus said that I must first remove the log in my eyes before I remove the splinter in my brother’s eye. We are all sinners and must have compassion for other sinners.