January 2019
John : (Jn 8:3-11)
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?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. 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 any more.”.
Vincentian Reflection
Go forth and sin no more.
Proverbial mountains have been written about these six simple words in this Gospel. We’ve all heard these words many times, and yet not until fact checking this reflection was I cognizant of the fact that this is the passage immediately preceding possibly the most well known passage in John’s Gospel, specifically;
Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Setting aside the “did you know trivia” brings us back to “Go forth and sin no more.”
Theologically, we can find extensive writings on why Jesus would give an instruction known to be impossible. For myself and I assume for many Catholics I’ve never needed to examine that debate; as Catholics we know that the Rite of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, to borrow a contemporary phrase – reboots our life and provides us a foundation to “…sin no more”. Of course, until we do (sin).
But for tonight, I’m reflecting on an alternate or secondary meaning to be found in “Go forth and sin no more”.
In this our Lord guides us, in the simplest of terms to always look forward. Sins can be forgiven; what is not forgiven is proceeding as if sin is unimportant.
And if we’re looking forward as true believers, then our eyes are on Him for guidance, on Him for council, on Him for reassurance and love. It is in this way we can best try to mimic His life.
If we start this year in this manner, with our eyes on our Lord and looking forward to do as He would have us do, then I suggest we are starting the year well and can proceed to do our best in our mission to serve Him and His hungry, His lonely, and His needy.
With that in hand we can truly hope to “…have the light of life” He has promised us.
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