May 2, 2026
Today, I’d like to share some thoughts on Stigma, Shame and Liberation:
In today’s society, too many of us carry a level of shame, because of some stigma society has placed upon us. It may because we are growing older, have a physical disability, it may be an addiction, or mental illness. It may be because we are a person of color, LGBTQ, a Muslim, Jew, an immigrant or poor. You may be too tall, too short, too heavy or too skinny. You may be divorced, or had an abortion, or served time in prison. There is no limit to the labels and stigmas placed on us, weighing us down, unworthy as if we don’t belong.
In today’s Gospel (John 8: 2-18), Jesus encounters a woman who has been publicly shamed and threatened with a violent stoning. She is dragged before him, reduced to a label, while those accusing her claim that the law is on their side. Jesus refuses to play that game. He does not argue or condemn. Instead, he pauses, lowers himself to the ground, and reminds everyone that none of us are without sin. One by one, the accusers leave, their stones falling away.
When Jesus speaks to the woman, he does not shame her or demand an explanation. He offers compassion first. “Neither do I condemn you,” he says. This is not about ignoring harm, but about recognizing that shame never leads to healing. Jesus believes change grows out of grace and dignity, not humiliation. He tells the woman to “go and sin no more”.
Jesus then says to the Pharisees, “I am the light of the world.” This light is not meant to expose us and leave us feeling broken. It is meant to guide us forward. It tells us that we are more than our worst mistakes and more than the names others have given us. It reminds us that no one is beyond grace.
Looking at our own lives and the world in which we live, who is being judged or excluded today? What stones are we holding, even by silence or complicity? And how might we let them go? Jesus calls us to be people who refuse cruelty, who speak truth with kindness, and who make room for healing and belonging.
Above all, Jesus reminds us who we are. We are not defined by our past, identities or circumstances, shame or stigma. We are beloved children of God. Jesus’ words still speak to us: “I do not condemn you.” And in that grace, we are invited to walk in the light and live more freely.
