Reflections of a beloved son

In the Gospel we are presented with the incident where the woman and man were caught in the very act of adultery, and the Pharisees have seized the woman and is about to carry out the consequence that such an act warranted: stoning.  In an attempt to test Jesus, they asked Him what they should should do for the Law of Moses said to stone her.  Jesus' initial response was silence.   I love this silence.  Oftentimes it is the silence that speaks the loudest.  Think about it.  What could the Pharisees have been thinking: "why isn't He saying anything...?"  Then Jesus bends down and begins to write something with his finger on the ground.  Scripture doesn't tell us what He writes.  The people couldn't deal with the silence so they asked the question again and Jesus said, " Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her ."  What a statement.  The people began to gradually disappear one after another....

(Originally penned First Sunday of Lent, March 10, 2019) “ Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart…rend your hearts, not your garments ” (Joel 2:12-13). What came to your mind when you read the title?   How do you define brokenness?   What is sacred space to you?   How can brokenness be sacred space? Perhaps the term “brokenness” or “woundedness” can carry with it a negative connotation.   Maybe it means “messiness” or “trouble” or “guilt.”   No matter what your definition of “brokenness” may be, the reality is that we are all broken.   I am a broken man.   And, you too are a broken man or woman.   However, my brokenness is different from your brokenness.   One important thing we ought to remember is that we are not defined necessarily by our brokenness.   For one person, their brokenness could be the constant feeling of loneliness and the fears and insecurities that plague him or her.   For another ...