Among You Who Is Without Sin

Beads of Joy 03-21-10

Among You Who Is Without Sin
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Lent 2010 - Day 33
Hello Everyone,

Today is the 5th Sunday in Lent. This has been a most joyous journey as we draw closer to Easter. The gospel we are reflecting on today is John 8:1-11 (A Woman Caught in Adultery). In this wonderful gospel where Jesus not only gives pardon to the woman, but He also gives her a fresh new start. This is what Lent is all about, a chance for all of us to clean the slate before our Lord, and have a fresh new start. In this gospel Jesus is there for the woman when she is confronted by the crowd; they judged her harshly for the many sins of her life. But Jesus challenged their judgment and they left her alone; many I am sure pondering their own sins. Remember that Jesus forbid us to judge each other; so while she was being condemned by everyone else Jesus in all His wisdom, mercy and love forgave the woman. His compassion for the sinner is endless, nothing is more important for Him than to forgive us and make us clean before God. It is only through God's grace that we will able to confront our sins, and repent and beg God for forgiveness. It's not that we need to beg, He will always forgive us, but we must not be so assumptive and arrogant, for that would only lead us to more sin.

We can also reflect on our past ignorance that has led us into our own personal sinful affairs. I would think that since Jesus had only just begun His ministry, so much that He was teaching still wasn't heard. This woman was probably living a life that for whatever reason she may have thought, "there is no God. So what difference does it make what I do." Her faith was not alive, until she met Jesus, Son of the Most High God. Her heart and soul were open to the truth and it was the "truth" in Jesus that set her free. What an absolutely exciting feeling that is when you know Him and He forgives you for all the evil you have done. No one on planet earth has any power to do such a wonderful loving thing like that for us.

Do we seriously know the joy that can be found in a really good open honest confession? We are accountable to God for the things we do in this life. I know many people live a life that obviously don't reflect such sediment; but in the end it's true, we are all accountable for our own choices and decisions. That's why we don't have any right to judge one another, instead we need to be loving and compassionate to one another helping one another defeat the sin. Do you know another very powerful, extremely eternal gift that God gave each of us? Each other !!! That's right we have one another for all eternity to share God's love with each other. That's why we must do what we can to help one another to eternity. Take a good hard look at all the wonderful friends you have in your life. How many really know Jesus? How many do you love that you know don't know Jesus. I know what you're probably thinking, "should I share Jesus with them?" My answer is yes, but in each situation, we need to approach that differently. Some may just need your prayers, others might need someone to love them, or forgive them. But be compassionate. When they see you, they need to see Jesus. There's an ole song that goes like this, "They will know we are Christians by our Love.."

What can we do now in our lives, so that we to can confront our own sins and bid them farewell? For starters let us not look upon anyone else, but only ourselves. Look in the mirror, it's that person who needs your attention and judgment. If each of us makes our own self accountable for the sin that we commit, we will become a more God fearing, God loving world. Jesus gave us a warning against these things. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" Matthew 7:1-4. AMEN !! In other words, why are you noticing that little spec of annoying sin in your brother's eye, when you have such a huge plank of sin in your own. Let's live a life pleasing to God. Sin only offends Him and further alienates us from Him. Here is a very insightful verse, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted." Titus 1:15.

Today's Challenge: Frequent Confession. The church requires once a year. Fr Larry Richards recommends once a month, he says it's good for the soul. I can't help but to agree.

Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO