Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

GOSPEL John 8:1-11

‘Let the one among you who has not sinned be the first to throw a stone’

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing
adultery, and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, Master, the woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?” They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? No one, sir’ she replied. Neither do I condemn you, said Jesus go away, and do not sin any more.

PRAYER:

Jesus, Lord of mercy, you showed compassion

to the woman caught committing adultery.

Cast out whatever is impure from our hearts and our lips.

Grant that we may always have a profound respect and reverence for our own bodies and the bodies of others.

Send your Holy Spirit to set a seal over our hearts, that we may love you with all our being.

Forgive our past offences and give us the grace of a fresh start.

Terry Mc Namee