The story we’ve just heard is one of those that hardly needs any explanation or interpretation. It clearly defines the goody (Jesus) and the baddies (the scribes and Pharisees). The latter’s line of attack against Jesus is obvious enough to be seen from space. His response is witty and goes straight to the heart of his opponents, rendering them powerless and causing them to leave. The final exchange between Jesus and the woman quintessentially reflects the central message of the gospel: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” We mentally join the winning side of the clash because a) we belong to Jesus and b) we side with the underdog – in this case, the voiceless woman on the verge of public execution.
However, unlike the story in today’s gospel, the challenges and moral dilemmas we face in everyday life are often much less clear-cut. We frequently find ourselves choosing between lesser and greater evils. We struggle to predict the consequences of our decisions accurately or may not even attempt to do so. It’s not uncommon for us to react impulsively to highly charged situations, driven by strong emotions rather than cold, calculated reasoning. As outside bystanders, we might admire Jesus’ clever outmanoeuvring of his opponents and his act of saving the woman in question because we have not been directly affected by her actions. But consider how you feel when you are the wronged party in a conflict. Are you quick to forgive? Are you magnanimous in your actions and reactions toward those who have hurt you? The gospels are given to us not to make us feel nice and cosy in our mental safety blankets; they are mirrors we must gaze into to improve ourselves. That’s precisely what Jesus did in today’s gospel: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” He effectively poured cold water on their agitation and made them think twice about their actions.
Jesus’ handling of the woman was just as firm. Blinded somewhat by his cunning dealing with her accusers, we might think he allowed her to escape lightly. However, in their brief exchange, Jesus made it clear that her actions had been morally wrong; he spoke frankly and urged her to change immediately: “from now on sin no more.” True, she avoided the death penalty, but since her sin had been made publicly known, she now had to face the consequences of her marital unfaithfulness. The term “adultery” implied she was married, meaning she had a husband to reconcile with. In the long run, she would have to live the rest of her life with a tarnished reputation, a tough gig in the highly conservative society of the time. The difference between Jesus’ approach and his opponents’ was giving her a second chance. Had they had it their way, she would have been dead, unable to make any amends. That’s what his words “neither do I condemn you” meant; they were not the words of approval or praise.
The last aspect of the story is Jesus’ initial reaction to the situation: “Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.” What was he writing? We don’t know, and it must have been something inconsequential. Otherwise, the biblical author would have indicated or even provided the content. The more important question is why he did this. There are two very similar but slightly different reasons. First, Jesus gave himself time to think about the situation, possible outcomes, and their consequences. Then, he broke his silence – seemingly spurred by his opponents’ relentless questioning – offering them his answer: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her,” and returned to his doodling. This time, he allowed them to reflect on the situation, possible outcomes, and their consequences. Overall, Jesus made everyone stop and think, and only after that did he and they act accordingly. That’s the takeaway from today’s gospel.
Let’s be honest: not many situations in our lives genuinely require urgent actions or reactions. Most of the time, we and those around us can benefit from slowing down and engaging our brains before we open our mouths. Similarly beneficial could be giving others time and space to do the same. Approaching a problem or challenge with cool heads can massively increase the chances of resolving it at a much lower or no personal cost – it will be a doodle.
Painting by Vasily Polenov
