Friends of Faith:
Jesus bent
down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued
asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is
without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”Again he bent down and wrote
on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the
elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened
up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She
replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and
from now on do not sin anymore.” Jn 8: 1-11
What was the writing in the sand? Could it be that what was
written in the sand was not quite as significant as the patience that Jesus
displayed as he was writing? A patience that gives all the characters in the
story time to examine themselves as sinners? Only God knows.
Not only is God all merciful, but it is only God we need to
please. And it is in our task on the journey of life to not only know what
pleases him, but to know how and if we are pleasing him. We can’t fool God.
Yet sometimes I try. I know sometimes that what I do, big or
little isn’t what God would want or wanted me to do.
It’s not necessarily that my choice is to be a hypocrite, or
even to do wrong. It’s that I am human. Sometimes I don’t know any better and I
need someone with better judgment than me to tell me that I am, or what I am,
doing is wrong.
Sometimes I haven’t yet received the wisdom to know
differently and I need to study more about how the Christian Church was formed.
And sometimes I just need to understand that I am listening
to the wrong voice within me. And while it may seem “easier” in my human nature
to do what everyone else is doing, or what makes me feel happier because it
gives me pleasure in that particular moment. If it is not God’s right it won’t leave
me with a lasting happiness so that I may feel joy and peace forever.
One of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit at Confirmation is
the gift of Right Judgment (1Cor: 12). The gift to know what is right by God
and what is not right by God: the gift to be able to make choices based on
knowing the difference between right and wrong in God’s eyes. It is a gift
given so that with every step I make I can see the “writing in the sand” and
hear and feel the mercy of God so that I can “go and from now on sin no more.”
Not only is this a gift I am given to know my own right and
wrong, but it is a gift that I am asked to both be a witness to and to share with
others so that each of us may become more holy. As a Christian I cannot judge
how God will see someone, but it is my duty, regardless of how I will be
treated, to share His commandments and to learn and discern the difference between
Gods right and wrong.
I cannot say “it doesn’t affect me, or that some choice wouldn’t
be my choice.” Would it be God’s choice? If we know what God’s choice would be,
if we know what God’s writing in the sand would be, then His
message must be shared with compassion and mercy.
In the words of St. Paul: “This third time I am coming to you. “On the testimony of two or
three witnesses a fact shall be established.”I warned those who sinned earlier …. that if I come again I will not be
lenient, since you are looking for proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not
weak toward you but powerful in you. For indeed he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives by the power of
God. 2 Cor 13: 1-11 (Continued as a
prayer)
Heavenly Father: So also we are weak in him, but toward you we
shall live with him by the power of God. Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Test yourselves.
Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, of course, you fail the
test. I hope you will discover that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do evil, not that we may appear to
have passed the test but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem
to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but
only for the truth. For
we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. What we pray for is your
improvement. I am writing this while I am away, so
that when I come I may not have to be severe in virtue of the authority that
the Lord has given me to build up and not to tear down.
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree
with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with
you. 2 Cor 13:
1-11 Amen.
Sometimes the message
God shared falls on fertile soil – soil that is being nurtured, that wants to
grow and learn more. Sometimes that message falls on sand and withers as it dries
up waiting for a rain (tears) to bring it back up because it is not yet ready
to bear fruit or grow. And sometimes it falls on rock – a hard heart, a
stubborn “I know better” or “I like what I know and I don’t want to know more”
attitude.
These attitudes, while they may look hypocritical on the outside are
human nature.
But as long as my choice is to grow closer to God then God’s writing
in the sand will not condemn me, but rather it will nourish me and help me to
“go, and sin no more.”
Don’t ignore the writing in the sand.
Grow closer to the writing in the sand. Be patient with the writing in
the sand. And share compassionately the writing in the sand.
Blessings,
Charlotte
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