The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. John 8:3-8
“How easy it is to denounce structural injustice, institutionalized violence, social sin. And it is true, this sin is everywhere, but where are the roots of this social sin? In the heart of every human being. Present-day society is a sort of anonymous world in which no one is willing to admit guilt and everyone is responsible.
Because of this, salvation begins with the human person, with human dignity, with saving every person from sin. Individually there are among us here no two sinners alike. Each one has committed his or her shameful deeds, and yet we want to cast our guilt on the other and hide our own sin. I must take off my mask; I, too, am one of them, and I need to beg God’s pardon because I have offended God and society. This is the call of Christ.
How beautiful the expression of that woman upon finding herself pardoned and understood: ‘No one. Sir. No one has condemned me.’ Then neither do I, I who would give that truly condemning work, neither do I condemn; but be careful, brothers and sisters, since God has forgiven us so many times, let us take advantage of that friendship with the Lord which we have recovered and live it with gratitude.”
Óscar Romero of El Salvador (1917-1980) in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 329-330.
Ever wonder what Jesus wrote on the ground on the two occasions. No one knows. I think the first time He wrote that He forgave her and the second time that He loved her.
Regardless, that’s what the gospel is all forgiveness and grace.
In our recent GTP Monthly Global Prayer Hour, I opened with a prayer of confession. As Romero notes rightly, we are the problem and the gospel is the solution.
In the generosity space all too often people with wealth act like the problem is outside of them and they are the solution. While we may participate with God in administering change, the solution always has been and always will be Jesus Christ.
As we tackle challenges the right starting place is confession. We must “take the mask off” and acknowledge that we humans are the source of the problem, and ask God to bring hope, help, and healing.
As we start another week, pause to confess your sins and then celebrate with gratitude like the adulterous woman, that you are a friend of Jesus. Give thanks for God’s generosity which is the foundation for any generosity we may exhibit.
Lord have mercy on me a sinner. Forgive me. I am part of the problem. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the solution. Help me make it known to this broken and hurting world. Amen.