Neither Do I Condemn You
Lent's fifth Sunday
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Dear Saints,
This Sunday's Gospel gives us another memorable scene from Jesus' life: the woman caught in adultery.
Can I say something shocking? We are all adulterers.
It doesn't lessen the blow (but it might take some of the shock away) to say that, in the language of the Scriptures, idolatry is adultery.
The truth is, we all stray from God. He's not always the centerpiece of [our] identity and life’s purpose. Whenever God isn't the very center of our lives - whenever we're not loving him with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength - we are spiritual adulterers.
The beautiful thing is, just like the Gospel we hear this weekend, Jesus comes to our rescue. If we entrust ourselves to him, Jesus will give us the heart to love God as we should. Jesus has done it - all the way to the end - and we can do it through him and with him and in him.
I've been playing with a working definition for mercy, that it is simply love given that is determined to overcome unworthiness, that is willing to prevail over every offense. This is the love that God shows us. This is the love that we can bring to life for everyone we encounter if we trust and follow Jesus (we can't do it any other way).
As you walk into church this weekend, you'll be struck by the veiling of our statues and crucifixes. The veiling, I find, helps me to overcome spiritual adultery in a number of ways:
Not being able to see the holy images increases my desire to see them.
Hiding the images from view helps me to desire God, not simply the many blessings (represented by the images) he gives me.
More on this practice can be found here. Join us these last couple weeks of Lent as we walk the veiled way together.
I love you, my friends, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Christ with the Woman Taken in Adultery
Guercino, 1621