The Journey 166

Read: John 8:1-11

Another news items needs to be seriously taken into consideration. According to Tom Strode who writes in the Baptist Press has reported that the British newspaper, "The Telegraph"  has brought out a startling news about a new blood test. What is unique about this new blood test which has been developed is that,  it will help doctors to screen unborn children for more than 3,000 genetic disorders.  This is a research published on June 6, by a  team from the University of Washington. The team has reported it was able to map the entire genetic code of an unborn baby using a blood sample from the mother, who was 18 weeks into her pregnancy, and saliva from the father. The researchers has predicted that this noninvasive test could be widely used in the coming years, would enable screening of thousands of genetic conditions. The scientist as well as pro life group activist, acknowledges that the  research  raises lot of ethical and moral  questions since a common use of this blood test may induce lot of parents to go in for more abortions, especially if the  screenings of the unborn child indicate problematic  genetic conditions. But activists and groups who support these types of test  argue that, when discussing about the ethical and moral issues of an unborn child, issues like whether allowing a child to suffer for the rest of his life with a genetic disorder, is such a life worth living, and also should parents be made to bear this emotional and mental stress for the rest of their life. Whatever be the case, I think we always need to affirm life and  also whenever we are faced with contentious  issues we need to take a comprehensive outlook rather than giving vent to our emotional feeling with no reason or logic associated with it. This week we are meditating on the theme “ Transformation in our personal life” based on John 8:1-11. This is one of the passages in the New Testament, which raises  a  lot of inquisitive questions. The whole episode revolves round the plight of a woman caught in adultery and is ridiculed publically. The plight of the woman could be gauged by the charges that was leveled on her– caught in a adultery.  The very act not only is sinful but brings total disrepute to ones character. It is this issue that is discussed not behind closed doors but publically to discredit and bring disrepute to the woman, when the male members involved in this particular crime or sin is hiding in public and may be the ones who have come in front to punish her. It is then we find Jesus maintaining silence while the accusers trade charges on the woman. What Jesus does is to bend down and write something on the sand. We do not know what Jesus wrote. But when he says the most powerful words “Those who have not sinned should throw the stone first” creates such a awesome response and reaction that people who raised the charges against the woman leaves the place in silence. Why are those words of Jesus so powerful that made the accusers leave the place so quickly. There may be lots of reasons but I think here is Jesus communicating to all of them and to us whether when we condemn have we understood comprehensively the moral and ethical issues faced by the people whom we condemn guilty?. Unless we do not understand their plight and their context, we have no right to pass sentence on another. What is needed today in any issues affecting life is that we need to take a comprehensive outlook about it rather than reacting and judging purely out of our bias which may be based only on our emotional feelings. How comprehensive are you in life?