Mary Magdalene lived in Splendid Solitude. The woman was lost to her body held captive to the influences of the world. Caught in the Act one day, she was yanked from the shadows of her bedroom and dragged through the streets of Jerusalem. The Pericope Adulterae is a traditional name for a passage about Eisa(Jesus) and the Woman taken in adultery.
from verses 7:53 - 8:11 of the Gospel of John, the reading for today.
In an unexpected move, Pope Benedict XVI announced his desire to step down as Pope. He had come to the certainty saying: " That my Strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine Ministry."
Eisa(Jesus) was teaching the crowd at the temple.The Pharisees having caught Mary Magdalene in the act, wanted to know how Eisa(Jesus) would respond to the Law of Moses, and before the crowd threw Mary at his feet. The Pharisees were quick to judge and condemn.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen to lead the church as Pope Francis. The Media and Critics went into an overdrive historical research - fault finding - condemning mode. They concluded the new Pope had stayed silent during the systematic human right abuses by the former military dictatorship in his home country.
When Eisa(Jesus) was asked whether or not he agreed to her being stoned responded,"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." One by one the lynch mob retreated, realizing they too were sinners.
Vatican denied the accusations, while Pope Francis laid a clear moral path for the church beset by scandals and dissent saying;" Let us never give in to the pessimism, to the bitterness the devil places before us every day."
When they had left, Eisa(Jesus) asked the woman where those who condemned her had gone.When she said there are none left, Eisa(Jesus) said, " And neither do I condemn you. Go and Sin no more." Eisa(Jesus) did not condone adultery but expected the woman to turn away from sin.
Pope Francis said," I leave from where the Apostle arrived."
1000 BCE. The camels were grazing in the distant beyond and Abdulla
was more than pleased that Rebecca had given birth to Aaron, a Male and an Heir
to his Throne.
As a child he was mischievous, and would often find himself at
the receiving end. Many a time Rebecca would threaten to cane him with the
reed. The fear of the striking reed would get little Aaron disciplined.
Aaron was 6 years of age when his mother
first struck the reed on his palm. Until then it was the fear that kept him on
hold. With today’s strike, the fear had gone. Pain from the reed was defined
and Aaron discovered his threshold to bear this pain.
Later in reprimand his mother would tell Aaron that his father would be
informed of his misdemeanors.
It was at the age of 12 when his father struck him the first time, for bad behavior.
Until then he would stay away from his father, ensuring he did nothing to anger
him. But after today’s strike Aaron realized he was able to bear this pain as
his father repeatedly struck.
He had crossed another threshold.
Fearing his ways, his mother now tried to instill the fear of God into him. If
something went wrong, she would tell him that God was angry, and this was God’s
way of correcting him. Greater calamities did he escape from and Rebecca attributed
this to the wrath of God.
After Abdulla’s demise Aaron headed the tribe. The misfortunes that befell his
tribe did not please him, and he attributed the lifestyle of his people, displeasing
to God.
He had to resolve this, think for himself and so withdrew deep into the
desert. Fasting and in Meditation beyond two new moons, he was one day enlightened.
He knew he had to lay down a set of rules that were acceptable to God and Man,
to lead a good life. He understood all that was evil and wrong being practiced
by his tribesmen.
He returned home and with the stone cutters etched the rules on stone by which his tribe would live. There was more discipline in the tribe, and all
were happy at the set of rules being uniformly applied. With time the content of these laws were codified and a new tradition of being ruled by law established. But these were behavioural laws for mankind.
1000 years later a child was born into the region, who would be called
'The Master'.
He taught all to Love God and not Fear him. He gave his followers the commandment
"Love one Another" and taught them the need to
"Forgive one Another"
