to: all of my friends
from: Father Bill Muench
The Gospel for this Sunday is a familiar story – the story of the woman taken in adultery. I am certain that the part that is remembered well is Jesus’ solution to the challenge that the Pharisees present to him, when he says, “Let the one without sin, cast the first stone.”
Jesus was especially kind to those whom he was called to judge. Here some Pharisees and Scribes bring to Jesus a woman taken in adultery. The basic story annoys us – where was the man – and how dreadful this public shaming of this woman. This story is a bit of a warning to those who think they are taking the high moral ground. Which of us is without sin – so we must learn from the example of Jesus. He condemned the woman’s sin but refused to condemn her. Jesus distinguished between the sin and sinner. He saw the goodness in each and every person.
The compassion and forgiveness of Jesus gives life – the holier a person is the less he or she will judge others. Jesus did tell her – “Go and sin no more” – he recognized her sin – but refused to condemn her. This we believe is how Jesus treats us and asks us to treat others. I find such confidence when I must approach my Savior with my failings – I am not afraid to meet this compassionate judge who loves me – unconditionally.
The mission of the Church of Jesus is to be a place of forgiveness – so that those who fail may experience the love and compassion of Our Savior, who refused to condemn. The Church, the People of God, will always strive to be a community which will not condemn – but which will love.
This is the spirit and foundation of the Church’s Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament which continues to be a time of confession, is meant to be a celebration of God’s forgiveness and compassion. This is also our opportunity for conversion and change of life – this may mean eliminating something sinful that keeps us from god – or – discovering something that will bring us closer to the Lord.
The important part of this sacramental experience is what happens before I meet the priest to seek the sacramental absolution and forgiveness of God. I begin this sacrament by taking some time to consider who I am and how I have lived my life. The message of this sacrament is that I am a good person – unfortunately I have not always lived like a good person – I can be better than I am – and so I must now make some decisions – decisions that will change what must be changed. Then when I have prepared my program for the future – I approach the priest to declare my readiness to be a good person. It is good for me to declare my sins and failing – so that I will remember well this moment of conversion – my readiness to change and turn my life to the Lord. And then I can consecrate this moment by receiving the blessing and absolution of the priest. What a gift this sacrament is – of course, it is hard – we are not good at humbling ourselves – but when we accept that challenge we become closer to the Lord – unafraid of Our God – recognizing God’s compassionate and forgiving love.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, my Father – I turn to you this day in deep humility – I need your love and forgiveness and support and guidance that I may make my life all that it should be – watch over me, Lord – I seek your forgiveness because I have failed to the kind of person that I long to be – and that you ask me to be – this is my prayer.
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer
One of the blessings of this Lent for me has been the Saturday morning men’s Prayer Breakfast – it has been great to get together for breakfast with them – and also for the sharing that has taken place – I have learned so much from their ideas and ideals.
from: Father Bill Muench
The Gospel for this Sunday is a familiar story – the story of the woman taken in adultery. I am certain that the part that is remembered well is Jesus’ solution to the challenge that the Pharisees present to him, when he says, “Let the one without sin, cast the first stone.”
Jesus was especially kind to those whom he was called to judge. Here some Pharisees and Scribes bring to Jesus a woman taken in adultery. The basic story annoys us – where was the man – and how dreadful this public shaming of this woman. This story is a bit of a warning to those who think they are taking the high moral ground. Which of us is without sin – so we must learn from the example of Jesus. He condemned the woman’s sin but refused to condemn her. Jesus distinguished between the sin and sinner. He saw the goodness in each and every person.
The compassion and forgiveness of Jesus gives life – the holier a person is the less he or she will judge others. Jesus did tell her – “Go and sin no more” – he recognized her sin – but refused to condemn her. This we believe is how Jesus treats us and asks us to treat others. I find such confidence when I must approach my Savior with my failings – I am not afraid to meet this compassionate judge who loves me – unconditionally.
The mission of the Church of Jesus is to be a place of forgiveness – so that those who fail may experience the love and compassion of Our Savior, who refused to condemn. The Church, the People of God, will always strive to be a community which will not condemn – but which will love.
This is the spirit and foundation of the Church’s Sacrament of Penance. This sacrament which continues to be a time of confession, is meant to be a celebration of God’s forgiveness and compassion. This is also our opportunity for conversion and change of life – this may mean eliminating something sinful that keeps us from god – or – discovering something that will bring us closer to the Lord.
The important part of this sacramental experience is what happens before I meet the priest to seek the sacramental absolution and forgiveness of God. I begin this sacrament by taking some time to consider who I am and how I have lived my life. The message of this sacrament is that I am a good person – unfortunately I have not always lived like a good person – I can be better than I am – and so I must now make some decisions – decisions that will change what must be changed. Then when I have prepared my program for the future – I approach the priest to declare my readiness to be a good person. It is good for me to declare my sins and failing – so that I will remember well this moment of conversion – my readiness to change and turn my life to the Lord. And then I can consecrate this moment by receiving the blessing and absolution of the priest. What a gift this sacrament is – of course, it is hard – we are not good at humbling ourselves – but when we accept that challenge we become closer to the Lord – unafraid of Our God – recognizing God’s compassionate and forgiving love.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, my Father – I turn to you this day in deep humility – I need your love and forgiveness and support and guidance that I may make my life all that it should be – watch over me, Lord – I seek your forgiveness because I have failed to the kind of person that I long to be – and that you ask me to be – this is my prayer.
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer
One of the blessings of this Lent for me has been the Saturday morning men’s Prayer Breakfast – it has been great to get together for breakfast with them – and also for the sharing that has taken place – I have learned so much from their ideas and ideals.
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