John 8 tells the story of a woman who was caught "in the very act" of adultry and was brought to Jesus, not as a human being seeking the wisdom of a teacher but as a test. We know nothing about her. No name. No age. No background. We don't know if she was married or was caught with a married man. We don't even know for sure she was caught in the act - we only have the word of a mob who was trying to trick Jesus into condemning himself in the eyes of either Jewish or Roman law. This poor woman may have been doing something very wrong - but the saddest part of the story is how little anyone seems to care about her - or even recognize her as a person.
Jesus changed this. He did not downplay what she had done - but recognized that her accusers were also far from perfect. In many ways he put them on the same level as she - or put her on the same level as her accusers.
As a sidebar, I find it somewhat amazing that, even back then, the preoccupation of those wanting to cleanse the church was with sexual sins. What is it about sexuality that draws our focus from trying to live our own upright lives? Why are the men of this story as well as many Christians today so caught up in who is sleeping with whom they don't see the evil hatred and deception and violence of which they need to repent?
I think there is a carry over from last week. Herodias was so caught up in feeling threatened by the words, and therefore the very existence, of John the Baptist she could not let go and enjoy her life. Many "righteous" people are so caught up in feeling threatened by the successes or happiness of the "sinful" they can't enjoy the blessings of being in right relationship with God - and soon their relationship with God suffers. Why are we so jealous of those living in sin and not paying a consequence that we can see? If we focussed on the joy and blessing of living the life we are meant to live, others would be jealous of us! They would want the inner peace and the joy that only comes from having that solid centre. But when we focus on the "fun" we are missing, we cannot see or experience the fullness of joy promised to us.
Looking back at the woman we also need to notice that Jesus took the time to actually look at her. He talked to her. He didn't drag her, preach at her, send her away. He took a few seconds and treated her like a person worthy of conversation, worthy of eye contact. We will never know what the result of that day was for that woman. Maybe she became a follower of Jesus. Maybe she returned to a loving husband and was forgiven. Maybe she was shunned by her husband, her father, her society and had no place to turn. This is not what was important to this story. We don't need to know whether she suffered for her sins (more than she did that afternoon). That is not our problem. What we need to know is that, even though she was humiliated and seen as a lowlife worthy of death, Jesus saw her as someone who had the option of changing - of sinning no more. Jesus sees each of us that way. He knows how far from perfect each of us is - yet he claims each of us as someone with whom he wants a relationship.
Not long ago a group of teens from Steubenville stripped, raped, and totally dehumanized an unconscious young girl. Not only did they physically assault her, they took pictures, posted them for the world to see and taunted her with them. And this was seen as ok by many of the townsfolk because they were "boys" and they were football heros and everyone knows football stars have to sew their wild oats. This is an example of the extremes that an attitude of superiority can bring. If I don't see you as a valuable brother or sister in Christ and in humanity - you become an object for me to do with as I please. Many cultures have treated slaves that way. Many cultures treat "lower" class people that way. Many people treat women that way. We need to really work at seeing Christ in all of the people we meet. Sometimes it is harder to see than others - but everyone is loved by Christ. We don't deserve that divine treatment any more than anyone else - but since we have been blessed we should pass it on. God created us all to be in relationship, to be part of God's family.
So the challenge of the story of this unnamed woman is at least twofold. One - we need to look at our own failings before we judge too harshly - or better yet we can love the sinner (including ourselves) and leave judgement to God. Two - we need to look for the humanity and the God-likeness in each person and give them some basic respect - and maybe even share some of God's love for them - even if we can't approve of what they have done/are doing. We need to let them have their names, their places in their story and in ours and to let them know they are valuable to Christ. We are not so different - from those we see as "better" not those we see as "worse". We are all fallible members of God's amazing and diverse family. Let us love our siblings.
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