No student succeeds in a difficult examination unless he struggles against his desire to escape work. No research scientist succeeds without struggling against the temptation to do careless work. Similarly, no one gains the kingdom of heaven without struggle with self and overcoming difficulties.

Jesus taught this with a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure in a field: a man has found it and hidden it again, and now, for the joy it gives him, is going home to sell all that he has to buy that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is as if a trader were looking for rare pearls: and now he has found one pearl of great price, and has sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13, 44-46).

CHRIST FORGIVES A SINFUL WOMAN

The religious leaders at that time were quick to see in Jesus a threat to their own privileged positions. They saw that He put less emphasis on external ritual than on a man’s heart. They saw that He brought real freedom from exaggerated observances to which they had given such an importance. He was challenging them to change and they were afraid of that. He was touching their own self and asking them to reconsider their views. And they resisted violently.

One day when He was with the common folk, they brought before Him a woman who was leading an immoral life.

“Master,” they said, “this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Moses, in his law, prescribed that such persons should be stoned to death; what of you? What is your sentence?’ they said this to put Him to the test, hoping to find a charge to bring against Him.

“But Jesus bent down and began writing on the ground with His finger. When He found that they continued to question Him, He looked up and said to them, `Whichever of you is free from sin shall cast the first stone at her.’ Then He bent down again and went on writing on the ground.

 “And they began to go out one by one, beginning with the eldest, till Jesus was left alone with the woman, still standing in full view. Then Jesus looked up and asked her, `Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?’ `No one, Lord’, she said. And Jesus said to her, `I will not condemn you either. Go, and do not sin again in the future,” (John 8, 4-11).

On another occasion, Christ said even more clearly to people, “Go in peace your sins are forgiven.”

If He were only an ordinary man, those words would not have very much meaning; for since sin is an offence against God, only God can forgive sin. No one can ever forgive a person who has offended you. Only you can.

From Christ’s way of acting, from His tremendous love for all, from His words, I have to judge now for myself whether Christ can really claim my belief, confidence, my hope.

Here with this woman, He does not condemn her. He offers her the chance of a new start; He offers her a new life. He shows her the way to escape from self.