April 2015
isitation
V
April 2015
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vol.org
Good Stewards Are Blown Away
By God’s Mercy
Inside
2
VOL Students Honor St. Joseph
3
Exploring God Through Science
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is?
4
Prepare For a New Life In The Spirit This
Pentecost
5
Pentecost Novena
6
Stopping Child Abuse: How You Can
Make a Difference
7
Workshops for Lectors and Extraordinary
Ministers of the Eucharist
8
Candlelight Rosary For Life
Have you ever heard the Gospel story of the adulterous woman? Sure you have! Well, have you said after
reading it, “My God, that’s incredible! That’s mind blowing!!” I sure hope you have, because the story is, in fact,
both incredible and mind blowing.
The story of the Adulterous woman is right up there
with the stories of the Prodigal Son and the Good Thief as
statements of how easily and completely God forgives. It’s
morally historic.
The woman has been caught in the act of adultery;
and, at that time, the Jewish penalty for the sin of adultery
was death, generally by stoning. So, Jewish religious leaders ask Jesus, “What should we do, big shot? Stone her?”
At first, Jesus says nothing. He buys time to let them stew a
little. Then, when they push the question, Jesus gives his
remarkable answer. Jesus says, “Look, guys, I want the one
of you who has never sinned to throw the first stone.” One
by one, they all leave.
Jesus is teaching multiple lessons. One, if we feel
compelled to judge, we should first look into a mirror and,
then, we should examine our consciences. Two, we shouldn’t judge whether an act is sinful. That’s God’s job, not
ours. And, finally, by his actions Jesus tells us to trump justice with mercy whenever we can.
We all know the rest of the story. Jesus asks the
woman whether the Jewish religious leaders, who have just
shamefacedly left, condemned her. She says, “No.” Jesus
then completes the lesson. He trumps justice with mercy.
Justice calls for stoning. But, Jesus says, “Well, I don’t
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