The woman caught in adultery is an image of us all

Sometimes when we read various Gospel stories, we can think that they are only referring to other people.

An example is the story of the woman caught in adultery, who is about to be stoned by a group of men.

We can think that this only applies to someone else and not to us.

However, each of the Gospel stories has multiple layers of meaning, and while John's account certainly did apply to a specific woman at a particular time of history, it also applies directly to each one of us.

St. John Paul II meditated on this biblical story in an Angelus address in 1998 on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. He explained how, "To the men and women of every age, Jesus repeats: 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again' (cf. Jn 8:11)."

We need to place ourselves in this story and to identify with the woman caught in adultery. We may not have the exact sin, but in reality, every sin we commit is a type of adultery. It is a way in which we are unfaithful to God, choosing lesser goods that distract us from him.

The Old Testament in particular used this imagery time and time again, as the people were unfaithful in many ways, turning to other gods throughout their history.

St. John Paul II continues to showing how this story should lift up our hearts, especially if they have been mired by sin:

Often we can feel depressed by the immensity of our sin, and think that God could never forgive us.

The "good news" is that Jesus will forgive us and is ready to do so. The key, as St. John Paul II notes, is to "let God forgive us first, recognizing that it is we who are the object of his mercy."

Once we can accept God's forgiveness in our hearts, we can then do as he commanded, "do not sin again."

Being forgiven by God is only the first step, as we then need to let that gaze of love pierce our hearts and radiate into everything that we do.