Today’s Gospel is the familiar story of the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees planned a trap for Jesus, thinking that either way He answers will allow them to bring a charge against him. A “yes” answer for stoning the woman to death would support Mosaic Law (Dt. 22: 22-24) but violate Roman law as the Jews did not have the right to administer capital punishment. A “yes” would also violate Jesus’s own teaching. A “no” answer would be in disobedience of Mosaic Law. Jesus, as so often happens, turns the situation around and reverses the dilemma back onto his interrogators. He tells them that the one without sin should cast the first stone. One by one, they each leave. The story does not end here. Jesus turns to the accused woman and tells her to go and sin no more. So what do we learn from this story that can possibly apply to our lives? First, the Pharisees were doing what we also find so easy. They were making a judgment on another while at the same time failing to examine their own hearts and motives, their own sins. The adulteress was a mirror of their own sins and Jesus opened their eyes to see this. Yet Jesus did not condemn the woman. Instead, He gently offers forgiveness and mercy. With this we all applaud. But we often forget the second part of the story: “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” Jesus does not say “Don’t worry about it.” Instead, He knows how harmful sin is. His words display His mercy. He shows His love for the sinner but hate for the sin. May we draw strength to “sin no more” through the sacraments and constant prayer. And may we be comforted through the Words of Jesus immediately following this Gospel story: “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.” (Jn 8: 12) Reflection by St. Catherine’s parishioner, Dale Gerber.