5th Sunday of Lent (April 3, 2022)

The gospel of the woman caught in adultery has a special relevance for us these days. Our Lord did not deny the validity of the Jewish law to execute the woman for her crime. But He refused to implement it. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her”.
Jesus, the sinless one, did not cast the stone. He forgave but also admonished her to sin no more.
Many people still cannot understand the Church’s position on the death penalty, which is consistent with the attitude of Christ. We must give the sinner the chance to reform. The death penalty should only be resorted to as a last resort, when there is no other effective means to safeguard the common good.
It should not be a product of vindictiveness or a misplaced sense of righteousness. We are all capable of the worst crimes if God did not give us the help to avoid them.

That we may build a Culture of Life which welcomes the born and preborn, the stranger and neighbour, and the saint and sinner, we pray to the Lord…