They said this to test him

“They said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him.” (JN 8: 4-6)

We can use hundreds of tools every day to achieve our ends; we can use, as a means to an end, everything, but not persons, because we are human beings, not human doings. “This woman” was used at least twice: first “in the very act of committing adultery” and second “they said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him.” This contemporary culture tries to convince us that our happiness is based on things we can have and use and that it is ok to use others as a means to an end if the other person is ok with this.

We don’t like this approach. We respect people. People can’t be used as a means to an end. Women are not for bringing pleasure or delivering children. Women are for being loved and respected and for being wives and mothers. When there are some complications—we help, support, and cure. We do not give babies to women, using them as a means to an end (like IVF does); we respect their dignity and help them to become mothers with their husbands as the fathers.

“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Homily for Education Phase II at Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study on Human Reproduction (for FertilityCare Practictioners and NaProTECHNOLOGY Medical Consultants)