IN THE BATTLE AGAINST SIN AND EVIL, BE VIGILANT ALWAYS. PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR DAY AND NIGHT.

"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8: 7): "NẾU AI TRONG CAC CAC KHÔNG PHẠM TỘI, THÌ NÉM ĐÁ NGƯỜI NÀY TRƯỚC ĐI!"

Monday 4th April 2022 of the 5th week of Lent is the feast of St Isidore (560 - 636), Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Isidore was Bishop of Seville in Spain and a leading light in the Church in Spain. He initiated many local Church councils. St Isidore earned his place among the Doctors of the Church by his rigorous scholarship especially his extensive Encyclopedia (Etymologies) which was popular up to the Middle Ages.
In 1992, Pope John Paul II declared St Isidore of Seville the patron saint of the Internet.

The sacred texts present us with the story of two women. One is Susanna, beautiful wife of a very wealthy man. The other is a simple woman caught in the act of adultery. Both women were accused of adultery, a sin punishable by death in those days and still so in Moslem countries.

There are a number of lessons in the two narratives.
#1 Satan is the Father of lies and the Book of Revelation calls him the Accuser of the brethren. Do you know anyone who delights in pointing fingers and quick to accuse? Unjust accusations against Jesus and Stephen led to their deaths.

#2 Corruption of power. Susanna was accused by two elderly judges whose advances she spurned. The woman caught in adultery was accused by those who caught her in the act and religious judges who wanted her dead. Judges and lawyers face continuous temptations to bribery and corruption.

#3 The stories ended well in the marvelous timely Divine Interventions. God used Daniel in the case of Susanna and Jesus the Divine Mercy in the case of the woman caught in the act of adultery.

What do we take away from the two stories? "The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in him." (Daniel 13: 60). The reaction of the people shows that they understood that a miracle happened. They glorified God and their faith became strengthened. This is also the takeaway for us because every Bible narrative is there to build up our faith in a loving and merciful God.

St Isidore of Seville pray for all those who do their ministry on the Internet, earn their livelihood on the web and get their education from the Internet.

"Now, be silent. Adore Me. Trust Me. I have only begun to show you the path of holiness that I am opening before you. And give thanks to Me, for I have saved you, through a particular intervention of My most holy Mother, from the fate that the Evil One was preparing for you for so long a time." (IN SINU JESU, Friday, March 28, 2008).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

LET THE PERSON WITHOUT SIN BE THE FIRST TO THROW A STONE.( JOHN 8: 7)

"AI KHÔNG CÓ TỘI THÌ HÃY NÉM ĐÁ NGƯỜI NÀY TRƯỚC ĐI"

"In your kindness blot out my sins."

"Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.....

"Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

...... And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” (John 8: 10..... 11)

Sunday 3rd April 2022, of the 5th Week of Lent. Final Sunday before Holy Week.

Today's  Gospel celebrates Divine Mercy and Divine Intervention. The woman caught in adultery is guilty. If Jesus had not intervened in the nick of time, the story would have ended differently. This woman is surprised by Mercy.

Jesus became the Face of Mercy for the Adulterer who gazed into the Face of God and heard these words:  “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

"Forgiveness is the remission of sins.  For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again."  (St. Augustine).

The Bible has many examples of the merciful love of God. When you hear this testimony of mercy, put yourself in the place of the beneficiary of mercy and claim it for yourself.
"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19: 10).
What does this mean? Scripture is filled with examples of mercies and miracles that you can claim as prophecy, that is divine promise to you. 

"The blessing of the priest is a great means by which good is made to triumph over evil, love over hatred, and mercy over judgment. Similarly, the blessing given with the relics of My saints pleases Me much. I am glorified in My saints, and I pass through them to distribute the riches of My Heart in the universe of souls." (IN SINU JESU, Wednesday, October 10, 2007).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com