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<< Monday, April 7, 2014 >>

St. John Baptist de la Salle

Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
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Psalm 23:1-6

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

"Nor do I condemn you. You may go." —John 8:11

Injustices are not merely thoughts or feelings; they are realities. Therefore, we must not only stop injustices to the poor but also begin to repair the damage inflicted. Punishing those guilty of injustice is part of repairing the evil effects of injustice. Punishment stops the wrongdoing. It may be part of leading wrongdoers to repentance. Punishing the unjust restores some peace and security to the community. It also restores the just values which have been skewed by injustices. So it would be unrealistic and unjust to let the adulteress in today's Gospel reading go unpunished. The Pharisees were not necessarily being vindictive when they planned to stone the adulteress. They were doing justice.

When Jesus let the adulteress go, He would have been unjust if He had not planned to provide justice for her victims and society in general. Jesus did this when He took her punishment upon Himself and was executed in her place on Calvary.

This may be why Jesus "bent down and started tracing on the ground with His finger" (Jn 8:6). He may have been deliberating whether to suffer the punishment for the adulteress' sins, our sins, and those of the whole world. As Jesus bent down, He may have thought of being knocked down and tortured. As He traced on the ground with His finger, He may have seen the nails being pounded through His hands and His dead body being buried in the ground. When Jesus stood up and let the adulteress, and us, go free and uncondemned (Jn 8:11), He condemned Himself to take on the punishment justly due to all the sinners of all times. Jesus condemned Himself to an unimaginably brutal death for justice and love of us.

Prayer: Jesus, I am Barabbas (see Mt 27:16ff). The cross was intended to punish me. Thank You for justifying me (see Rm 5:1).

Promise: "The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God Who saves those that hope in Him." —Dn 13:60

Praise: St. John urged, "Be driven by the love of God then, because Jesus Christ died for all."

Day 119 - Why does the Church celebrate the liturgy so often?

Why does the Church celebrate the liturgy so often?

The people of Israel interrupted their work "seven times a day" (Ps 119:164) in order to praise God. Jesus participated in the liturgy and prayer of his people; he taught his disciples to pray and gathered them in the Upper Room so as to celebrate with them the liturgy of all liturgies: the gift of himself in the Last Supper. The Church, which calls us to the liturgy, obeys his command, "Do this in remembrance of me".

Just as a man breathes air in order to stay alive, so too the Church lives and breathes by celebrating the liturgy. God himself is the one who breathes new life into her day by day and enriches her with gifts through his Word and his sacraments. We can use another image, too: every liturgy is like a rendezvous of love that God writes on our calendar. Anyone who has already experienced God's love is glad to go to church. Someone who from time to time feels nothing and goes nevertheless shows God his faithfulness. (YOUCAT questions 166-167)

Dig Deeper: CCC section (1066-1070) and other references here.

One Bread, One Body

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Day 119 - Why does the Church celebrate the liturgy so often?