The two readings today speak about adultery. In the First Reading from Daniel there is the story of Susanna, who, because she rejects two men who want her to commit adultery with them, is in danger of being executed until she is saved by the astuteness of the judge Daniel. In the Gospel, however, we are dealing with a woman who seems definitely guilty of an adulterous act, either as a married woman with another man or as an unmarried woman with a married man. The penalty is clear - death by stoning. What is even less pleasant about this story is that the unfortunate woman is dragged before Jesus to test his conformity to the Law of Moses. "Moses ordered us to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?" Jesus at first refuses to answer but, when they persist with their question, he says: "If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone." To their credit, each one of them walks away leaving Jesus alone with the woman. "Where are your accusers?" Jesus asks. "There is none," she replied. So Jesus does not condemn her either but tells her not to sin again. There is no question that sin alienates us from God but, once we recant sincerely, there is no question of our being taken back. Can we say that is true of the people we regard as having offended us?