Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
We have started the last week before Holy Week. It is time to look back and see how we have fared so far in It is easy to rejoice in the happy ending of the story of Susanna and the two elders, and that of the woman caught in adultery. The victims are acquitted, and the villains punished. It is equally tempting to rejoice in saying to self: at least I am not that bad. Yet the two stories have lessons for each of us.
In the gospel story, Jesus tells the Pharisees that let the one who has never sinned be the first to throw a stone at the woman. Jesus does not point to any specific sin. None of them dares to throw the stone. I wonder how many of us would. This reminds of Jesus’ teaching: “do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Pardon and you will be pardoned.”
In the story of Susanna, we learn that by watching her daily, gradually they desired her. Sin comes gradually through unchecked temptations. They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to heaven, and forgetting its demands of virtue.” This is a process many of us are susceptible to unless we check ourselves.
If in spite of our feeble efforts we sin all the same, then we find consolation in the words of Jesus to the woman. He told her: “neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” These same words he tells us whenever we approach him for his mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation.
