We all remember the old phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, the truth is that words can hurt…and sometimes do even worse.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is confronted with a crowd ready to stone a woman caught in sin. He challenges them with these words: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” Slowly, they drop their stones and walk away. But I wonder: How often do we throw stones with our words?
We throw stones when we gossip and when we tear someone down out of anger, jealousy, or frustration. We also throw stones when we label people unfairly, when we make assumptions, and when we refuse to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, we throw stones when we let division, politics, or pride push us into judging others harshly—sometimes without even knowing the full story.
In today’s world, those stones are everywhere. Social media and public conversations are full of them. So often, we speak without mercy, patience, or kindness. And the damage goes far beyond broken bones; it breaks trust, divides families, creates enemies out of neighbors, and silences those already struggling.
But Jesus calls us to something radically different. He doesn’t just tell the crowd to put down their stones; He responds to the woman with mercy. He doesn’t ignore her sin, but He also doesn’t shame or condemn her. He simply says, “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”
That’s the other part of this equation. It’s not just about stopping the hurtful words; it’s about replacing them with words that heal, forgive, and show mercy—words that build up instead of tear down.
Right now, when there’s so much division, anger, and blame in our world, this message couldn’t be timelier. Before we speak (or comment, criticize, or post on social media), we need to ask ourselves, “Am I throwing stones with my words?” And if we’ve hurt someone, “Am I willing to offer words that heal?”
This week, let’s pay attention to the words we use—both in person and online. Let’s drop the stones we’re tempted to throw, instead choosing words of compassion, patience, and mercy.
