There’s an old (even old for me!) movie by Cecil B. DeMille called the King of Kings. He stages the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery by the sea shore, not the temple. (And, by the way, why was only the woman caught in adultery?) When the Pharisees accuse the woman, Jesus says, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” and he bends down and writes in the sand. He writes “gluttony” and one of the Pharisees blanches and leaves. A wave washed that away and Jesus writes “envy” and another leaves. Another wave and Jesus writes “greed” and another leaves. When they have all left Jesus tells the woman: “Neither do I condemn you.” A vivid illustration of the commandment of Jesus: Judge not. We are all in the same boat, needing God’s mercy and forgiveness. Since God has such compassion on us, so we must show compassion to others.
