Testing, Testing…
John 7:53-8:11
There is a story in John’s gospel that includes the familiar adage, “let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” That’s not the exact quote, but that’s how it gets used most often, and I think for most of us it seems to be the point of the story. But there are other things going on here that sometimes get lost in the account. “The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 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. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him” (John 8:3-6a). There is no question that the woman has done what she is accused of. (In fact she never denies it.) But her sin really isn’t that important to the religious leaders. Actually, their intent is not to administer the law of Moses but to force Jesus to either abide by the law or to publically defy it. The whole thing is a trap with Jesus right in the middle of things.

But Jesus turns the situation around, effectively removing himself from the equation and shining a light, first on the leaders, and then on the woman. “Fine,” he said, “kill her. And the first stone should be thrown by any one of you who is not a sinner.” It must have been some scene, as first the elders, and then the scribes and Pharisees began to slink away, one by one and then in larger groups, until no one was left to carry out the punishment. How could they? To presume innocence at this moment would have been utter hypocrisy. At the very least they had just tried to trap Jesus using a technicality of the law as the reason for arresting him. Once they had shuffled off it left only Jesus and the woman, the one who had initially been identified as a sinner and who never denied it. And finally Jesus is able to turn his full attention to her and to offer forgiveness of her sins while admonishing her to sin no more.

The scribes and Pharisees wanted to make Jesus the point of this story, but Jesus did what the gospel does so often, which is to put the focus on us and on our lives. Where do we stand in all of this? Do we want to force Jesus to do things our way? And if so are we willing to cast the first stone? And what about the sins that we have committed? Are we willing to hear Jesus’ words of forgiveness if they are followed by the call to sin no more? There really is a lot to think about in this story, a great deal to consider. Ultimately, however, it is a story of grace. And perhaps that’s what we really need to hold on to.

Prayer: Lord, help us to accept the light of the gospel as it reveals our shortcomings, knowing that it also grants us your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Clean Up Your Act

Matthew 23:13-26

Our gospel reading for today includes words of Jesus’ condemning the actions of the religious elite. “Woe to you,” Jesus says, “scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean” (Matthew 23:25-26). Jesus is pointing to the ritual purification of household items, and using it as a parable of righteousness. Those who were worried about appearances but who cared little for God’s will were like cups and plates cleaned on the outside but left full of filth on the inside. “Get your priorities straight,” says Jesus. “Clean up your act.”

Most of us are preparing ourselves for the coming holidays by decorating, cooking, cleaning, shopping, and so forth. We worry about our budgets (so much to buy), about our weight (so much to eat), about our time (so much to do), about our obligations (so many folks to please). Are our priorities straight? Are we focused on the real point of the season, the needs of our world that Jesus addresses over and over again? Or are we cups and plates that are clean on the outside but filthy on the inside? Let’s put it another way: would you serve holiday guests on dishes that had not been washed? No! Nor should we serve God with hearts that have not been touched by the call for justice and righteousness.

Jesus’ words are stark and direct. What matters to God is a life of faithful obedience. Live in accordance with God’s will first and foremost, and let your actions be your gift to the world.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to live as you intend, with hearts set not on worldly desires, but on the grace and mercy that you seek. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Which is Worse, a Withered Hand or a Withered Heart?

Luke 6:1-11

Stories of Jesus disregarding the traditional sabbath restrictions are common. Our reading from Luke this morning includes two such instances, the second being the more poignant.Luke tells us that Jesus was teaching in the synagogue one sabbath (Luke 6:6-11).

Among those in attendance was a man whose right hand was withered. The contrast between Jesus, accepted as a teacher, and a man whose condition would have caused him to suffer a certain amount of isolation from others is significant. So is the presence of those for whom the law was far more important than Jesus’ compassion. As Jesus heals the withered hand the scribes and Pharisees in attendance have their darkest opinions of Jesus confirmed. You can almost hear their minds closing, their hearts hardening. The story ends with the man’s hand restored and the perspective of the scribes and Pharisees withered instead. But Jesus has also put himself in an awkward situation. He has gone from a position of respect –– as a teacher –– to one of disrepute, a man willing to flaunt the law of God. It’s a profound turn of events.

It is typical to try and place ourselves in stories like this one, to see ourselves standing with Jesus and approving of his actions. But the truth is not always that clear cut. There are times when we can get so wrapped up in protocol and tradition, in “the way we do things” that we miss the opportunity to learn something new, even from Jesus. Jesus lived in obedience in God, not in blind acceptance of the law or of public opinion. If we are going to follow Jesus we are going to have to learn to do the same, to concentrate on acts of compassion and not on judgment. We are going to have to trust the teacher.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your healing touch that mends our hearts and minds even as it leads us toward accepting your will. Amen.