VATICAN CITY, MARCH 21, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is warning the faithful this Lent against judging others, and to be more aware of the mercy and forgiveness of Christ.
The Pope said this today in a reflection on the Gospel episode in which Jesus saved an adulterous woman from being condemned to death. He delivered his comments before praying the midday Angelus with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
He recounted how in the Gospel scene — found in John 8:1-11 — the Pharisees sought to test Jesus by bringing to him «a woman caught in adultery, for whom the Mosaic Law prescribes stoning.»
«The scene is full of drama,» the Holy Father explains. «The woman’s life and Jesus’ own life depend on his words. The hypocritical accusers, in fact, pretend to entrust him with the judgment while in reality they want to accuse and judge him.
«But Jesus is ‘full of grace and truth’: He knows what is in every man’s heart, he wants to condemn sin but save the sinner, and unmask hypocrisy.»
