Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

In today’s Gospel Jesus goes to the Temple in Jerusalem. By now, many are seeking to get rid of him, he has caused them embarrassment ( because of the crowds who come to see and hear him), he has not observed the Sabbath in the prescribed way and he is attracting far too much attention. So to corner him they brought a woman along who had been caught in  the act of committing adultery. “They”  being the Scribes and Pharisees. The man obviously legged it and no mention is made of him. They invoked the law of Moses to give maximum punch to their charge as Moses was honoured by all. Moses had given them Permission to put such a person to death by stoning. That spectacle is not unknown in our world at present. But clearly it was not the anxiety to fulfil the law of Moses that motivated them so much as a chance to find more excuse to challenge Jesus. He simply bent down and started writing on the ground most likely covered bay sand and dust. What a way to wind you up, he says nothing and shows little interest. From experience myself I can say when I am angry I really hope the other person is too because we can both say stupid things and give our own version of what happened. Jesus did not do that, but asked “if there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”. They knew that they were burning with rage, sought to destroy him and even let the man go free, (Moses said both parties should be stoned). So they melted away until only the woman was left with Jesus. He did not condemn her.

Following on from the above, the Parish Lenten Reconciliation Service is on Wednesday 24^th at 8pm. Preparation for reconciliation with God is not just turning up, but primarily preparing our minds and hearts beforehand, not with lists of sins but a desire “ to meet the one who was born to forgive”, i.e. Jesus. His words change what we cannot.

The Reconciliation Service at St Tarcisius will be on Thursday 25^th at 8.00pm

Please note that on Monday there is a Requiem Mass for Arthur Wallis (Anne Summers Dad) at 2.15pm All welcome.

Please collect Gift Aid Envelopes from the porch.

Holy Week posters are available in the porch. Please take one and display it in your window at home.

Also some more help needed for Holy Week ceremonies. Please see sheets in the porch.

Finally I must tell you I had a really wonderful holiday in Jordan (Petra) and Egypt. It was a chastening sight to see how so many have to live. In that part of the world animals are really treasured, but the donkey seems king as he is everywhere from 6 lane traffic to doing the farm chores.

God Bless,

Fr John