THE UGLIEST WORD
John 8:3-11
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees
brought in a woman caught in adultery who stood in front of the group. They
said to Jesus, “This woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses
commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” Jesus said to them, “If
any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at
her.”…those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first,
until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
Near the end of his life,
Carl Sandbur, historian, poet and entertainer, was asked by a reporter, “What
in your opinion is the ugliest word in the English language?” Mr. Sandburg drew
his brow thoughtfully over his face and repeated the phrase, “The ugliest word
in the English language.”
The reporter and television
audience waited. Mr. Sandburg gathered his face into a circle of concentration
and said slowly, “The ugliest word?” Everyone waited.
Finally, Mr. Sandburg turned
back to the reporter. “The ugliest word,” he said, “the ugliest word is (pause)
exclusive.”
Preaching. by Fred Craddock, pg. 135.
