Jesus was a victim of sin. Sin, selfishness, hate, jealousy, envy, and a whole list of other offenses had nailed him to a cross. Petty and hateful people stood around the cross and taunted Jesus. The civilized world was crumbling around them, and they had time to taunt a dying, political criminal. "Father, forgive them." Jesus said. Nobody was asking for forgiveness. Nobody was real anxious to give up sinful ways. Neither the oppressed nor the oppressors were looking for any spiritual solutions to their hate. Yet, without any request at all, Jesus handed out forgiveness.

Jesus made a habit out of forgiving. He did far more healing of the spirit than he did of the body. In fact, many of his physical healings were accompanied with the words, "Your sins are forgiven." Jesus was friendly with sinners. He even sought out their company. He even tarnished his own reputation with the spiritual leaders of Israel because he spent so much time with tax collectors, publicans, prostitutes, and the bawdy crowd of fisher folk and laborers. "He eats with publicans and sinners," they whispered behind his back.

The world was waiting for a Messiah. People wanted a warrior to ride into the Middle East and liberate Israel from her enemies. The people wanted to be freed from slavery. They wanted to be in charge of their own destiny. Jesus was that Messiah. The people found it hard to recognize Jesus as the Messiah because they were fighting the wrong enemy. Their enemy wasn't Rome—it was their own sin. And Jesus came to place in every hand the "terrible swift sword" that would defeat the enemy: "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." Jesus showed up in a world that was big on punishing sinners. In one of the most touching scenes of the Gospel, an adulteress was dragged before Jesus. The men of the town were already tossing smooth round stones up and down in their hands. The punishment for adultery was clear—stone the woman to death. They looked at Jesus. What would he do?

Jesus recognized the test, so he gave the men time to think. He bent down and did some doodling in the sand. Then he stood up and said, "Okay, let the one among you who has no sin throw the first stone." Then Jesus bent down and doodled some more. One by one the men dropped their stones and walked away, leaving the woman alone with Jesus. Jesus looked at her. "Hasn't anybody condemned you?" he asked.

"No one, Lord," she answered. "Neither do I," Jesus said. "Go now, and avoid this sin." Sin was again defeated by forgiveness.

From The Catechist Companion by Cullen Schippe, Chapter 8, "Come Back Home"