Today's Gospel (John 8:1-11) again shows us how great is the mercy of God. Jesus was teaching in the temple area. 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?" 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."
Jesus did not even look at the woman when the men brought her before him; when all had left, he forgave her. We need to remember that even a serious sin was forgiven by Jesus and how do we forgive those we know commit such a sin? We are called to be merciful as the Lord is merciful. I also want to know where the man was - the woman was caught in adultery and he is not even mentioned!
Jesus is always going to go to rescue the black sheep that has strayed; he loves each but loves to show his mercy.
The Little Black Book has an interesting note on the Scribes: "The scribes are mentioned 58 times in the Gospels, usually in opposition to Jesus." They were a specific religious group within Judaism. They were simply people who performed a "secretarial" function in all parts of society. Many people could not read let alone write at that time. The scribes copied and kept records for people at all levels. Many worked for the religious leaders.
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