The Stones Are Still Falling

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” — John 8:7

A reflection I encountered recently brought me back to the temple courts, where a woman stood before Jesus, accused of adultery.

The crowd was ready to condemn her. The Law of Moses was invoked, and the question was placed before Jesus: What do You say?

Jesus did not dismiss the seriousness of her actions, nor did He join the crowd in condemnation.

Instead, He bent down and wrote upon the ground.

When they continued to question Him, He stood and spoke words that have echoed through the centuries:

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

One by one, they walked away, beginning with the eldest.

When only Jesus and the woman remained, He asked whether anyone had condemned her.

“No one, Lord,” she replied.

“Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.”

What strikes me about this encounter is not simply that Jesus showed mercy, but that He refused to allow condemnation to have the final word.

The Church’s teaching on the death penalty brings this same question into our own time. Human dignity does not disappear because someone has committed a grave wrong. Justice remains necessary, as does our responsibility to protect others. Yet even in the face of wrongdoing, the possibility of repentance and redemption remains.

Perhaps this is what makes the encounter in John 8 so enduring.

The stones fall silent, not because wrongdoing no longer matters, but because mercy opens a path that condemnation alone cannot offer.

And perhaps the invitation extends beyond that ancient courtyard.

How often do we still carry stones of judgment, resentment, or certainty about another person’s failures?

How often do we forget our own need for mercy?

Mercy does not abolish justice. It reveals its final aim.

The stones are still falling.

The question is whether we are willing to put down the ones we carry.

— Linda Lok

A Prayer for a Heart of Mercy

Lord Jesus,
Teach me to see others through Your eyes,
With compassion rather than judgment,
With understanding rather than condemnation.
When I am quick to cast a stone,
Remind me of my own need for grace.
When I encounter the failings of others,
Help me remember their dignity.
May Your mercy soften my heart,
Your wisdom guide my judgments,
And Your love lead me toward forgiveness.
Teach me to put down the stones I carry
And leave room for Your grace to work.
Amen. 🕊️❤