...Jesus said, "Come to me!"

“53 Then each of them went home, 1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning He came again to the temple.   All the people came to Him and He sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ 6 They said this to test Him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him.  Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ 8 And once again He bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before Him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ 11 She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again’” John 7:53; 8:1-11.

I have always found this to be one of the most powerful and contemporary texts for our times. Time and time again I find myself struggling when churches deny people entry into their church, or they deny people a God-give grace of one of the sacraments, because they are gay or because they are in multiple marriages. Time and time again I cringe when I sit in church and am denied communion because I am not a member of a particular congregation or denomination. 

I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING ABOVE. 

I remember Jesus saying in John 8:7, “7 When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’”

Be honest today in your prayer and ask yourself, “What do you hear God saying?”

Sacraments are outward signs instituted by Christ — to give grace! How can we, then, deny someone the grace of God?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner!

Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, say the Word and I shall be healed!