A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives.  At daybreak he reappeared in the temple area; and when the people started coming to him, Jesus sat down and began to teach them.  The scribes and the Pharisees led a woman forward who had been caught in adultery.  They made her stand there in front of everyone.  ”Teacher,” they said, ”This woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  In the law, Moses ordered such women to be stoned. What do you have to say about the case?”  (They were posing this question to trap Jesus, so that they could have something to accuse him of).  Jesus simply bent down and started tracing on the ground with his finger.  When they persisted in their questioning, Jesus straightened up and said to them, ”Let the one among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone at her.”

A second time he bent down and wrote on the ground.  Then the audience drifted away one by one, beginning with the elders.  This left Jesus alone with the woman, who continued to stand there before him. Jesus finally straightened up again and said to her, ”Woman, where did they all disappear to?  Has no one condemned you?”  “No one, teacher,” she answered, “Nor do I condemn you.  You may go.  But from now on, avoid this sin.”

The Good News as spoken through John.