18 Mar
Mon
5th Week of Lent
Dan. 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
Ps. 22:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Jn. 8:1-11
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Today's readings deal with two women. One, totally innocent, is accused of adultery by two wicked men, with whom she refused to have sexual relations. She is cleared by the wisdom of the judge Daniel. The other woman is, without question, guilty of the same sin and, according to Jewish law, should be stoned to death. What is horrible about this case is that the woman is being used as a pawn in a game by some scribes and Pharisees to trap Jesus. Will His reputation for mixing with sinners allow Him in this case to break the clear letter of the Law? Jesus throws the case back to them. If anyone of them is without sin, let him be the first to start stoning her. To their credit, none of them dares make such a claim and they slink away one by one. Only Jesus and the woman are left together. The religious leaders have not condemned her; neither will Jesus. It is not that He condones the sin but He gives her the opportunity to change. "Go away and do not sin again". How many times have we deserved condemnation for what we have done and have received Jesus' forgiveness? How many times have we condemned others and given them no opportunity to change their ways? And how often have we hastily judged people who like Susannah, were actually totally innocent?



Help us, Lord, to be as ready to forgive others as we know You are ready to forgive us.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of Love.
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : For the ecclesial organisations and groups engaged in social action, that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of Love.

It is the Church's desire that all social-charitable initiatives might always be inspired, in their implementation, by the immutable principles of the Gospel. There is danger, however, that professional organisations engaged in the social field risk losing the fundamental motivation for their existence: that is bearing witness to Christ's charity which the Church has the duty to communicate and to share with others.

In order to be effective, then, continual spiritual formation is needed for voluntary co-operators who wish to devote themselves to social action. All these initiatives tend to develop the awareness that the foundation and centre of our action is Christ, in whom the God of love revealed himself and gave himself to men and women. Consequently all those who welcome Christ follow him and answer the call to be faithful witnesses to it. This awareness must totally imbue the hearts and minds of individuals so that it also inspires the Communities they set up for organised action in support of underprivileged persons and communities suffering from material and moral poverty.

Being thus imbued and formed it becomes necessary that volunteers pray to draw Christ into their midst and have him accompany them.




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