Has no one condemned you?
In the previous post we reflected on the finality of the word condemn. It is presented as an attitude without forgiveness, mercy, compassion or reconciliation. There is an assumption that all routes back to wholeness are closed off. We see it in the response of the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son, despite the younger son humble return and begging for forgiveness, the elder brother still holds his sins against him.
In this week’s Gospel John 8:1-11 ‘ they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said ‘Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you? No one sir, she replied. Neither do I condemn you.’ the accusers recognized their own sinfulness and their need for forgiveness and thought it better not to condemn her.
This moment in the Gospel is deeply powerful—it reveals that an encounter with Jesus disarms our desire to condemn others. In the accusers silence, we glimpse the beginning of their transformation.
They came armed with stones and self-righteousness, but left with the weight of their own conscience. In the presence of Jesus, the spotlight shifts from the sinner to the inner state of the accuser’s heart. That silence becomes sacred—a space where God begins to work.
It’s in such moments that we, too, are invited to drop our stones of judgment, reflect on our own need for mercy, and allow compassion to take root. When we encounter Jesus, we don’t leave the same—we are called to walk away humbler, gentler, and more open to grace.
We reflect on the various encounters we’ve had with Jesus - in the Sacraments, at retreats, at moments of loss, on pilgrimages - at these times we have come away with transcendence experiences - but also with the recognition of our sinfulness in the presence of the divine.
These sacred encounters leave an indelible mark, not just on our memory, but on our very way of being. They remind us that grace is not earned but freely given, and that our response must be one of ongoing conversion.
Let us carry forward a renewed awareness of God’s mercy at work in our lives. May we be moved to extend that mercy to others, letting go of harsh judgments and embracing the path of compassion, knowing that every encounter with Christ is an invitation to be made new.
Friend, I invite you to visit my website where I share further resources to help us on our spiritual journey. Link to Website and Peace Blog