La Salette Laity Reflection for the 5th Sunday of Lent

April 6th

 

Written by
National Laity Committee Member, Joanne Simpson,

Marietta, Georgia

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In today’s Gospel, we begin with a seemingly simple statement that could easily be overlooked: "Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area." While the Gospel doesn't explicitly say why Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, we might imagine that it was a moment for him to pray, to seek strength and clarity for the challenges ahead in his earthly journey.

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Upon returning to the temple, Jesus is immediately confronted by the scribes and Pharisees, who bring a woman caught in adultery, quoting the law which prescribes stoning as the punishment. But Jesus doesn’t engage in their trap. Instead, he cuts straight to the heart of the matter. He invites those without sin to cast the first stone. In this moment, Jesus does not condemn the woman, but instead offers her forgiveness.

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This Gospel resonates deeply with the message of Mary at La Salette: to pray, turn away from sin, and return to Christ. No sin is too great to be forgiven. With a conversion of heart, we experience the depth and abundance of Christ’s love, a love that is always ready to heal and restore.