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[Then 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?”] (Jn. 8:3-5)

We read this snippet of the Gospel for this 5th Sunday of Lent (Jn. 8:1-11), and are angered at the scribes and Pharisees. Yes they know the Mosaic Law inside and out, but what an abuse of their knowledge and religious authority.  Their self righteous arrogance is repulsive.

However, do not you and I fall prey to that same self righteous arrogance from time to time?  We know the rules, we know our Faith, but we use our knowledge to condemn rather than lead the sinner to conversion.

“I am a a good person compared to them.”  “He isn’t a good Christian because of x,y, and z.” 

Could it be that thoughts and comments like these reveal the need for our own conversation?  We know the rules, we know our Faith, BUT we don’t know Jesus Himself.   Jesus condemns the sin of adultery, and simultaneously loves the woman.  As Christians we ought to do the same.

Take some time today and ask Jesus to help you love as He does.  Ask Him to show you the “dark places” of arrogance and self righteousness in your heart.  Turn toward Him and receive life.

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel 33:11).