(March 22, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI warned the faithful this Lent against judging
others, and to be more aware of the mercy and forgiveness of Christ. The Pope said
this Sunday 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
the Pharisees sought to test Jesus by bringing to him "a woman caught in adultery,
for which the Mosaic Law prescribes stoning." "The scene is full of drama," the Holy
Father explained. "The woman's life and Jesus' own life depended on his words. The
hypocritical accusers, in fact, pretended to entrust him with the judgment while in
reality they want to accuse and judge him. But Jesus knows what is in every man's
heart, he wants to condemn sin but save the sinner, and unmask hypocrisy," he said.
Pope Benedict XVI recalled how Jesus then "bent down and started writing with his
finger on the ground. Then, Jesus the lawgiver, justice incarnate gave his judgment:
'Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her.' These
words were full of the disarming power of the truth, which made the wall of hypocrisy
crumble and opened consciences to a greater justice, that of love,” the Pontiff reflected.
He assured the woman: "Neither do I condemn you; go and from now on do not sin any
more." The Pontiff added: "God wants only good and life for us. He ensures the health
of our soul and frees us from evil with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Pope
then concluded with the words: "We learn from the Lord Jesus not to judge and not
to condemn others, to be uncompromising with sin, starting from our own and lenient
with people."