Hello and welcome.
My name is Nietzsche and if you're following along this is part 6 of a Lectio Divina journey through the Gospel of John.
These meditations are a sacred rhythm of listening and reflection,
A way of resting with the Word and allowing the Word to rest in you.
Become still,
Find a quiet space,
Soften your breath,
Open your heart,
And let us begin with prayer.
Light of the world,
Shine into the hidden corners of our hearts,
Dispel the darkness of fear,
Pride,
And shame.
Help us to hear your words not as judgment but as invitation into truth and life.
Amen.
A reading from the book of John chapter 8 verse 1 through 18.
Creator sets free Jesus went to Olive Mountain to find lodging there.
Early in the morning at the sunrise he returned again to the sacred lodge.
All the people began to gather around him so he sat down and once again began to teach and tell his stories.
Across the plaza a cloud of dust was rising from a group of people who were walking toward Creator sets free Jesus as he was teaching.
They were forcefully dragging a woman along with them.
He could see her tears and the look of terror on her face.
It was the scroll keepers and the separated ones,
Pharisees.
They brought the woman to Creator sets free Jesus and forced her down on the ground in front of him and all the people.
Wisdom keeper they said.
We found this woman in the very act of being unfaithful to her husband.
Drawn from the water Moses instructed us in the law to throw stones at her until she dies.
What do you have to say about this?
They were putting him to a test so they could have a way to accuse him.
The crowd was silent and waited to see what he would say but he said nothing.
He bent over and with his finger he wrote something in the dirt.
When he did not answer right away the separated ones,
Pharisees,
Became angry and kept questioning him.
Creator sets free Jesus looked up at them and said the one who has done no wrong should be the first to throw a stone at her.
He then bent over and again began to write in the dirt with his finger.
When they heard his words they all stood there silently.
Then beginning with the one at a time they dropped their stones and walked away.
Soon all were gone except for creator sets free Jesus and the woman.
He stood up and looked at her.
Honored woman he said.
Where are the ones who were accusing you?
Is there no one who finds fault with you?
The woman looked up timidly into his eyes and said no one wisdom keeper.
Then I also find no fault with you he said to her.
You may go your way but take care not to return to this broken path you have been walking.
After the woman left the people began to gather around him again waiting to hear what he would say.
Creator sets free Jesus lifted up his voice and said to them.
I am the light shining on this dark world.
The ones who walk with me will not stumble in the darkness but will have the light that gives them life.
When they heard this the separated ones Pharisees said to him.
When you say these things about yourself you are the only one who says they are true.
If no one else speaks for you then we cannot receive your words.
Creator sets free Jesus answered them.
If I am the only one who speaks for myself my words are still true.
I know where I came from and where I am going.
You are the ones who do not know where I came from or where I am going.
You are deciding about me with weak human minds.
I am not deciding about anyone but even if I did my decisions would be true for I do not stand alone.
My father who sent me is the one who stands with me.
Your tribal law tells you it takes the word of two people to know the truth.
So then I speak for myself and the father speaks for me also.
Take a moment to let these words wash over you.
Letting your breath still deepen your body enter a little bit more stillness and prepare to hear these words in another way.
Creator sets free sat in the sacred lodge.
When the people brought before him a woman caught in wrongdoing they wanted him to condemn her.
But instead he wrote in the dirt.
He said let the one with no broken ways cast the first stone one by one.
They walked away.
He turned to her with mercy.
I do not condemn you.
Go walk a new path.
He turned to the people and said I am the light of the world.
Walk with me and you will no longer stumble in the dark.
My father walks with me and his voice and mine speak as one.
What if light doesn't expose you to shame but gently reveals what is true?
What if the voice of creator sets free does not condemn but says walk with me begin again.
Let the light speak to your heart now.
No striving.
No understanding.
Just stillness.
Light of the world.
You meet us not with stones but with mercy.
Help us to walk in your light.
To leave behind the shadows.
And to begin again in your grace.
Amen.
Thank you for sitting with the word today.
This meditation is part of a Lectio Divina journey through the gospel of John.
You are invited to continue along the path one quiet revelation at a time.
Track seven will guide us into the voice that calls us by name.
Until then walk in peace and walk in light.
Live like dust lit by fire.
Nicho
