Parish Bulletin

PARISH NEWS

Lightness of Mercy

Frequently we hear the whinging: “how come this person or these people are assisted by the government or the church etc. when they haven’t earned it the way we or I have?” “I’m getting cheated! I’m an honest, hard-working taxpayer and these marginal layabouts are parasites “on the system’”. No empathy or fellow-feeling here! They would enforce harsh law – “justice” – over compassion. They visualise a bucket of goodies. “If anyone else shares it, then we will lose out.” Or maybe they just enjoy feeling superior.

The same people feel particularly cheated, quite affronted and resentful at God’s mercy too. At the notion of “sinners” (other people) being forgiven. “I’m an upright God-fearing, church attending citizen. I’ve always paid my bit to the poor box. I live by the rules.” “These are the rules and I live by them!”

Their subtext is, “I’ve earned my salvation. I’ve ticked the boxes and I’m entitled to a place in God’s Kingdom, both now and in eternity.” Close on the heels of this notion is, “How come these other characters who haven’t been righteous like me earn a place?”

And of course the answer is illustrated in this week’s gospel (John 8:1-11). Firstly, no-one but Jesus is perfect, so no wonder the accusers drift away in shame. Jesus doesn’t interrogate the woman caught in adultery and she doesn’t deny her sin. He doesn’t suggest she hasn’t sinned but what Jesus shows is a mercy, not dependent on ticking boxes or technical righteousness, but on God’s unfathomable love. God’s mercy defeats our sins. She is sent to live her life sinning no more.

Pope Francis compares God’s mercy to the sun: “we look at the sky, the many stars, but when the morning sun comes, we don’t see the stars. Such is the mercy of God: it is a great light of love, of tenderness”. (Pope Francis Forgiveness in a caress 7 April 2014)

Deacon Mark Kelly

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

The final celebration for First Holy Communion will be at the following Mass

Sunday, 3^rd April 10:30am St Ita’s Church Drouin

This is such an exciting time for our candidates and their families, we ask you to please keep these families in your prayers as they continue their journey of faith together. May they find Jesus’ peace and love in their hearts and homes, and may they grow in their love for the Eucharist.