I find myself giving God my Christmas wish list this year as I contemplate how Jesus, the one we celebrate at this time of year, walked this earth, ie. John 8:1-11, in his gentle fashion loving a woman caught in adultery, loving those accusing her, those seeking to discredit him as a religious leader.
Rather than judging the woman or turning and accusing those men who dragged the poor woman into his presence demanding that she be stoned for her transgression as the law prescribed, he simply stooped and silently drew in the sand at their feet. What message or picture we are not told. Perhaps he did so to hide his tears over their brokenness, their unbelief, their misunderstanding of what he was about. The commentator I was reading pointed out that this event must have wounded Jesus deeply seeing the fear and enmity that drove all of that ugly scene. Jesus then simply responded:
"Let he who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
My wish at this Advent/Christmas time is that the Imago Dei as seen in Christ Jesus, his heart for forgiveness, reconciliation and peace, would show up in our families, communities and the world, disarming fear and enmities, the love of Jesus covering a multitude of sins. I truly believe peace and reconciliation begin in our own hearts as we experience being forgiven and discovering peace within our own selves impacting first of all our own senses, then grace and peace rippling out covering our immediate families, then into our communities and the world.
Anticipating Christmas morning when the waiting is over and desire fulfilled. I can only believe that my wish is going to be granted.
