Fifth Sunday & Week of Lent: The Gift of Mercy

In our meditation of the week: Reflecting on the Gospel of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11), Msgr. Fred Dolan invites us to contemplate the gift of mercy—a central theme of the Christian life. In this powerful scene, Christ reveals the heart of the Father, not through condemnation, but through compassion and forgiveness. It is a call to each of us to examine how quickly we pass judgment, often without even realizing it.

Msgr. Dolan reminds us that the devil seeks to divide—within families, communities, and society at large. But mercy, as a free and generous gift from God, restores unity and healing. It enables us to overcome division and to recognize one another as children of God.

Drawing from the teachings of Pope St. John Paul II, Msgr. Dolan emphasizes that every human being is a neighbor to be loved. The question is not “Who is my neighbor?”—which already implies limits—but rather, “To whom should I become a neighbor?” Mercy calls us to expand our hearts, to love as Christ loves, and to reflect his mercy in our daily encounters.

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