Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, 
and all the people started coming to him, 
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman 
who had been caught in adultery 
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught 
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin 
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”  JN 8:1-11

Today, Jesus teaches us that He does not condemn, we condemn ourselves. He came to save us not condemn us. Sin doesn’t hurt God, it hurts our relationship with God. When we sin, God doesn’t move, we move ourselves away from God. Second, as the verse before the Gospel says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.”  Third, we are all sinners.  Which one of us does not need God’s love and mercy?  We must have a big heart to convert hearts.  The scribes and the Pharisees are stuck in the law and self-righteousness.  

We often judge others quickly, I know I do.  When I am at the grocery store, watching TV, at the park, or anywhere unfamiliar to me, it seems I judge those I do not know.  I have learned over time to stop myself and reach out and say hello no matter what a person looks like or how they speak. Instead of judging, I have learned to offer a quick hand or ask a complete stranger how their day is.  We often do not know the people next to us in our pews at Church beyond a greeting and sign of peace.  They are there almost every Sunday (we don’t like to move much).  We like to be comfortable.  

Today, Jesus teaches us to have a big heart, be compassionate, get out of your comfort zone, take healthy risks and be kind and generous to others. We all have one Father, we all have sinned many times, be not afraid, reach out to others and be kind whether you know someone or not.  You will be amazed at their response!  Reaching out to someone might just convert a heart and make a believer out of them.

​Today’s challenge: Since Jesus forgives and does not condemn, “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”  Come to Jesus in confession again and again with full intent to not sin again.  His grace and your will can conquer sin.  It may take time, but never give up!

Be a servant, become a saint!
​#Christian YOLO