Wisdom That Saves: Jesus’ Response to Sin – Mar 18 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 18, 2024, on how divine mercy and justice through the stories of two women accused of adultery, emphasize Jesus' wisdom and call for personal reflection and repentance.

Father discusses two biblical stories where women accused of adultery are saved: Susanna, who is innocent, and another woman in the Gospel, who is guilty. Despite their different circumstances, both find mercy through divine wisdom. Jesus, in Jerusalem, faces a trap by the Pharisees involving an adulterous woman. They aim to discredit Him by forcing a choice between mercy and adherence to the Mosaic Law. Jesus responds not with condemnation but with wisdom, inviting those without sin to cast the first stone, highlighting the balance between justice and mercy. He exemplifies mercy, fulfilling the law through His sacrifice, and encourages the woman to sin no more, pointing to a path of redemption and a new beginning.

"I have come not to abolish the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them" - Christ's mission to fulfill the Law - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?17
"O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame" - The unfaithfulness of turning away from God - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/17?13
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink" - Jesus as the source of living water - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/7?37
"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her" - The call to mercy and self-reflection - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/8?7
"Go and from now on do not sin anymore" - The admonition to live a life free from sin - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/8?11
"Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal" - The pursuit of redemption and a new life in Christ - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/3?13

00:00 – Introduction, Accusations of Adultery
00:31 – Jesus in Jerusalem for the Feast and the Trap with the Adulterous Woman
01:22 – The Legal and Moral Dilemma Faced by Jesus
02:54 – Jesus' Response and Action to the Trap
04:31 – The Wisdom of Jesus' Answer and Call for Mercy
06:16 – The Departure of the Pharisees and Jesus with the Woman
07:15 – Jesus' Mercy Towards the Adulterous Woman and Her Future
08:57 – Conclusion: Invocation and Moving Forward in Faith

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday 5th Week of Lent (long) - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031824.cfm
1st: dan 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
Resp: psa 23:1-6
Gsp: joh 8:1-11

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1765

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