A Mother's Cry

My Dear Friends,

I recently received an anonymous communication from a Christian parent with an unusual request. I have no way of knowing if or how this person is affiliated with our church, but I recognized a deep hurt, anxiety and confusion, so I will honor the request, which was to offer a Word this Sunday regarding the role of a Christian parent whose adult child has strayed in a particular manner.

Whoever you are, you rightly seek spiritual wisdom to lead you through a complex situation. I offer you this Word from the fourth Gospel:

John 8:2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them,
4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?"
11 She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again."


Concerned parent, whoever you are, I ask you to prayerfully reflect on this reading and the path Christ chose. He sheltered the individual from the harm others would inflict, regardless of guilt. He identified himself with and stood up for the sinner, no matter who was watching and what they might think. He did not condemn, but offered instead a steadying hand, quiet forgiveness, simple encouragement and the grace-filled freedom to move on and do better.

Whoever you are, you are in my prayers.