Test

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Test

Own   Sins

Selfrighteous   Judge   Condemn

Put Your Rock Down

Mercy

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 8:5 and 6

The scribes and the Pharisees spoke to Jesus when He was in the Temple area, "In the law of Moses women who are caught in the act of adultery like this woman should be stoned to death. What do you say?"

They said this to test Him.

Reflection

When we hear the word test, it can generate some anxiety. Am I prepared for this test? Did I study the right material? What will happen if I fail?

The scribes and the Pharisees in our reading from John want to trap Jesus. If Jesus approves of the stoning of this woman who has been caught in adultery, He could be in trouble with the Roman authorities because they alone had the power to execute someone. If He went against the law from Moses, He would be in trouble with the religious authorities. It was a no-win situation for Jesus.

Jesus moves everyone in a different direction. He gets them to reflect on their own sins and failings. How can anyone pick up a stone to throw at someone when each of us is guilty of being selfish or hurtful to others? None of us is perfect.

It can be easy to be self-righteous. We can too easily look down on others and feel superior. "I would never do that." Yet we conveniently overlook all the other things we have done that are wrong, silly, or stupid. 

It's easy to judge the actions of others and forget all the mistakes we have made. We judge others many times even before we know all the circumstances surrounding their actions. We can condemn others before we have all the facts.

How many times have we heard something on the news about a crime and swiftly rushed to a judgment? A few months later an item is buried several pages back that talks about the charges being dropped because the account given by the witness was false. We don't even hear about the exoneration. In our mind the person is still guilty!

Jesus gets the people to put their rocks down and to leave this woman alone. He shows us that there is another path we can take, the road of reconciliation and forgiveness. 

We can refrain from judging and offer mercy in place of condemnation. Our test becomes an evaluation of our ability to become more understanding and less blind to our own failings.

Jesus passed the test He was given with His insight into the human condition. 

Are you prepared to pass the tests you face every day to be less judgmental and more merciful?

1. What do you feel when you hear the word test?

2. How do you try to avoid being self-righteous?

3. Why is it so easy to judge someone before we have all the facts?

4. How was Jesus able to pass the test that He was given?

5. What do you feel as you ponder Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)