Pastoral Notes for the 5th Sunday of Lent, April 6, 2025, Year C
N.B. Many parishes may be using the Year A readings for the OCIA, focusing on the raising of Lazarus. Whether focusing on the raising of Lazarus or the story of the woman caught in adultery, we see that through Jesus, God is always doing something new! God is the giver of life, forgiveness, and the renewal of our hearts and souls.
The woman caught in adultery was about to be stoned to death – the punishment prescribed in the old law. No doubt, she felt terror as her accusers closed in around her. Jesus was teaching in the Temple area when the Pharisees, a group of scholars who believed in the strict observance of the law, brought the woman to him, asking if they should impose the law of Moses. No doubt Jesus understood that they meant harm not only to the woman but also to him! If he dismissed the law of Moses, they could trap both him and her. In addition to punishing the woman, part of their objective was to discredit Jesus as an authentic teacher and stop people from following him.
Jesus, however, will not be trapped. He cares for the woman in her sin, shame, and fear. Jesus understands the human heart. He bends down and begins writing on the ground. He says, “Let the one among you without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And her accusers melted away one by one. Jesus tells her she is not condemned by him and to go forth, avoiding sin. This forgiveness is what makes the human heart new! This grace from the Lord engenders fresh hope that our own lives will be renewed! In a world too often caught in its old ways of thinking and acting, God makes something new! God does not want us trapped by sin, shame, or fear. Instead, God wants us to be embraced by His love.
Call to Action
- This year is the Holy Year of Hope! As Lent moves rapidly toward Holy Week and Easter, remind your people to take the opportunity to let God do something new in them through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You can use your GC Communications Portal to remind your people of the parish’s scheduled events quickly.
- Ask your parishioners and visitors to consider making a special Easter gift to the church. Remind them of all the good being accomplished in the parish because of their generosity. Have your parish’s GiveCentral text-to-give phone number and keyword ready for Holy Week. You can place this information on your Pew Engagement Cards or set this up with a QR code.
- As Easter approaches, we know how important it is to make giving as seamless and accessible as possible for your parishioners. That’s why we’re excited to introduce GiveCentral’s SmartStickers—a simple and effective way to encourage generosity right from the pews! We encourage you to place them in pews and high-traffic areas this Easter to provide an easy, tech-friendly way for your parishioners to give. If you’d like to order stickers in time for Easter, please let us know—we’d be happy to assist! You can request GC SmartStickers from Teresa Meyer at teresa@givecentral.org. You can also read more about them on the GC SmartStickers webpage.
- GiveCentral recognizes the challenges of donor retention, with a significant percentage of donors potentially lapsing after their initial contributions. To address this, GiveCentral’s Bridget Daly will host a Webinar on Wednesday, April 9th at 10 AM Central Time. Attending this webinar will provide actionable insights into increasing donor retention and cultivating lasting relationships with your supporters. Look for our upcoming invitation, or reserve your spot now! Reserve Your Spot!
