Unfathomable forgiveness. (Sunday Forum)
From Cathy's original reflection:
"Relationships flourish when people feel accepted as they are, and when they are not in constant fear of criticism and rejection. It brings out the best in people if they can respond freely to the love they receive, and not just do the "right thing" out of fear or a sense of duty."
I thought that beautiful. And Jesus' frequent prescription for us in relating to each other is to forgive. I wonder if this throws a new light on "Whatever sin you retain, is retained. Whatever sin you forgive is forgiven."
As for Brian's question about the writing: I'm with Peregrinis about the first instance of writing: it is a breathtaking invocation of authority. "As God wrote the Law, so I write the inner spirit of the law".
The second bout of writing seems to me to be a form of forgiveness. Jesus has made his point and now he allows the accusers to fade away. God's unfathomable mercy applies to all, the adulteress, to her accusers, and to those who sought to entrap him. It rains on the just and the unjust alike.
Complete thread:
- LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five with the Australian bishops - Brian Coyne, 2010-03-14, 10:51
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- NEW LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five now online - Francis, 2010-03-16, 17:59
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- NEW LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five now online - Francis, 2010-03-16, 18:15
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- NEW LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five now online - Liz, 2010-03-16, 18:24
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- NEW LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five now online - Francis, 2010-03-17, 13:54
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- NEW LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five now online - Francis, 2010-03-17, 13:54
- NEW LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five now online - Jerome, 2010-03-16, 20:49
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- Response to Francis... - Brian Coyne, 2010-03-17, 00:15
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- Francis, no matter what I do I have the same problem - BarryS, 2010-03-17, 06:44
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- Response to Francis... - Francis, 2010-03-17, 08:52
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- Response to Francis... - Brian Coyne, 2010-03-17, 11:46
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- Response to Francis... - Francis, 2010-03-17, 13:30
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- Response to Francis... - Francis, 2010-03-17, 13:30
- Response to Francis... - Brian Coyne, 2010-03-17, 11:46
- Francis, no matter what I do I have the same problem - BarryS, 2010-03-17, 06:44
- Response to Francis... - Brian Coyne, 2010-03-17, 00:15
- NEW LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five now online - Francis, 2010-03-16, 18:15
- LEAD RESPONSE: Week Five (from CathyT) - CathyT, 2010-03-17, 02:52
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- Finding it hard to concentrate this week but here goes... - Brian Coyne, 2010-03-17, 23:33
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- LEAD RESPONSE: Week Five (from CathyT) - cazza, 2010-03-18, 16:56
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- LEAD RESPONSE: Week Five (from CathyT) - georgeh, 2010-03-19, 09:23
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- LEAD RESPONSE: Week Five (from CathyT) - Tom McMahon, 2010-03-22, 04:24
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- Finding it hard to concentrate this week but here goes... - Brian Coyne, 2010-03-17, 23:33
- My Church, I condemn you not, go forward,sin no more. - Francis, 2010-03-17, 14:26
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- My Church, I condemn you not, go forward,sin no more. - desi, 2010-03-17, 15:06
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- Cathy, I am very sorry............. - Bill Dowsley, 2010-03-18, 13:34
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- Thank YOU, Bill... - CathyT, 2010-03-18, 17:07
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- A Little Late.... - Milly, 2010-03-18, 17:27
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- One for the gels - TonySee, 2010-03-18, 22:37
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- One for the gels - CathyT, 2010-03-19, 16:11
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- One for the gels - CathyT, 2010-03-19, 16:11
- A Little Late.... - CathyT, 2010-03-20, 10:47
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- One for the gels - TonySee, 2010-03-18, 22:37
- A Little Late.... - Milly, 2010-03-18, 17:27
- Thank YOU, Bill... - CathyT, 2010-03-18, 17:07
- Cathy, I am very sorry............. - Bill Dowsley, 2010-03-18, 13:34
- My Church, I condemn you not, go forward,sin no more. - Tom McMahon, 2010-03-22, 04:28
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- My Church, I condemn you not, go forward,sin no more. - desi, 2010-03-17, 15:06
- Hey everyone, why not come over here for a bit of a "breather"? - CathyT, 2010-03-18, 16:59
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- Hey everyone, why not come over here for a bit of a "breather"? - Gaspode, 2010-03-18, 18:47
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- Thanks, Gaspode. - Nicholas, 2010-03-18, 21:06
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- Thankfully we have much to smile about. - desi, 2010-03-18, 22:02
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- Thanks from me too, Gaspode - CathyT, 2010-03-20, 10:59
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- Thanks, Gaspode. - Nicholas, 2010-03-18, 21:06
- The significance of Jesus writing in the sand... - Brian Coyne, 2010-03-19, 01:14
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- Unfathomable forgiveness. - DavidC, 2010-03-19, 10:44
- Boulder pastor says Jesus turned some away - PeterR, 2010-03-19, 11:37
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- It's time to put away the stones. - desi, 2010-03-19, 12:15
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- It's time to put away the stones. - desi, 2010-03-19, 12:15
- Boulder pastor says Jesus turned some away - PeterR, 2010-03-19, 11:37
- Unfathomable forgiveness. - DavidC, 2010-03-19, 10:44
- Hey everyone, why not come over here for a bit of a "breather"? - Gaspode, 2010-03-18, 18:47
- NEW LENTEN REFLECTION Week Five now online - Francis, 2010-03-16, 17:59

















