If God did not send Jesus to condemn, then it’s doubtful he sent you ... or me!

Dear Friends,
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With more of Lent 2025 in the rearview mirror than in front of us, and with Holy Week and Easter not far ahead, it seems a good time to take stock of where we are in our quest for closeness with God. Today’s Scripture readings (we’ll hear different ones at 11:00 am because of the 3rd Scrutiny of the Elect) begin with a passage from Isaiah:

            Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs                      forth, do you not perceive it?

I must confess that my knee-jerk answer to that question is often “no.” But when I take the (sometimes) long view back, I can see — if not the actual working of God “doing something new” — then perhaps the fruit of that. The issue there isn’t God – it’s me. I’m reminded of this excerpt from the Prayer of Teilhard de Chardin:

            Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
            We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
            We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
            We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

I’ve mentioned the bridge between the Gospel and the Old Testament reading that is so often there in our Sunday Liturgy of the Word. Today’s Gospel story from John is that of the Lord’s mercy to the woman caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus here is certainly “doing something new.” In the hope of bringing a charge against him, the scribes and Pharisees quote the law that commands such a woman be stoned and await Jesus’ response.

Jesus’ “something new” is, of course, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one her accusers left until there was no one left to condemn her (and no plausible charge to be brought against him, either). Jesus says “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” How active the spirit of wisdom is. Jesus teaches a gentle lesson in humility to a crowd on the cusp of self-righteous violence. His appeal to their better selves saves them and their intended victim from a terrible sinful action. He certainly must have surprised the poor woman in the story with such mercy.
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But remember that Jesus also said he had not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but rather to fulfill them. Perhaps the most important “new thing” is his revealing the deep tender love and mercy that lies at the foundation of the law and the prophets, the bedrock upon which the Word of God (Jesus himself) stands.

Wouldn’t our world be a better place if we were “doing something new”? And if it were showing unexpected mercy and compassion? What would that look like for you?
Siempre Adelante,


Dominic MacAller
​Worship Minister 

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