Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

1. Lectio

Gospel (John 8:1–11)

They bring her forward with a kind of terrible triumph:

“…a woman 
who had been caught in adultery… ”

Caught—
as though sin were only real
when it is seen.

They stand her in the center,
not to restore her,
but to expose her.

And Christ stoops.

He writes in the dust—
as if to remind them that all accusations
are written on something that can be blown away.

“Let the one among you who is without sin 
be the first to throw a stone at her.”

And suddenly, those who came to catch
are themselves caught.

Not by Christ’s anger—
but by His truth.

And one by one, they leave.

Until only two remain:

the one who was caught,
and the One who catches without condemning.

In outlining these reflections, I thank all those who are working towards the goals delineated above, and I cordially bless all those who work for the common good through the media.

Conclusion

In this season of Communion—the Centennial pillar for March, am I allowing myself to be caught not in self-promotion or passive consumption of media, but in gratitude and responsibility—recognizing and supporting those who labor for the common good, and asking how I, too, might use my voice to build up the Body of Christ rather than simply observe it?

2. Meditatio

I must confess, I prefer my sins uncaught.

Gluttony, for instance, is far more agreeable
when it is conducted in private.

At table with others, I behave—
almost saintly, one might say.

But alone…
I become remarkably efficient.

Between rinsing dishes and loading the dishwasher,
I discover I can consume quite a theology of leftovers.

There is something about solitude
that persuades me I am unseen—
as though secrecy were a kind of innocence.

Even in a car,
or in front of a screen,
I can convince myself
this is not gluttony.

It is merely… convenience.

And yet, the evidence is not subtle.
I carry it with me.

My body bears witness
to what I refuse to let others see.

Which leads me to a curious realization:

I do not mind the consequences of sin
nearly as much as I mind being caught in the act.

But there is One who always sees.

And unlike the crowd,
He does not drag me into the center.

He waits.

He waits until I am alone with Him—
and then He speaks.

Not with accusation,
but with something far more unsettling:

“Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Which is infinitely more difficult to ignore
than condemnation would be.

3. Contemplatio (Chestertonian Synthesis)

Chesterton might say that the world is curiously obsessed with catching sinners,
but remarkably uninterested in curing them.

We build spectacles out of failure—
as though exposure were redemption.

But Christ does something altogether stranger.

He does not deny the sin.
He does not excuse it.

But neither does He define the person by the moment they were caught.

The mob believes the worst thing that can happen to a man
is to be found out.

Christ suggests the worst thing
is to remain unchanged.

To be caught, then,
is not the tragedy.

To be caught and yet refuse mercy—
that is the catastrophe.

For in the end,
we are all caught.

Caught not merely in sin,
but in the gaze of a God
who refuses to let sin have the final word.

4. Oratio

5. Actio — In Light of Laudato Si’ and Synodality

Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, people can easily get caught up in a whirlwind of needless buying and spending. Compulsive consumerism is one example of how the techno-economic paradigm affects individuals.

Laudato si’ §203

True human dignity is upheld not through exposure or judgment,
but through accompaniment, mercy, and responsibility for one another.

Today, I will resist the urge to “catch” others in their faults.

Instead:

• I will create space for honesty rather than shame.
• I will acknowledge my own weaknesses before pointing out another’s.
• I will walk synodally—recognizing that we are all in need of mercy, not spectacle.

For communion is not built
by catching one another,
but by carrying one another.

6. Song Pairing 🎵

🎶 “Cheeseburger in Paradise” – Jimmy Buffett🎵

7. Movie Pairing 🎬

🎬Movie: “Catch Me If You Can” (2002)

My Story

• Bishop Matthiesen, who rode the white horse of public activism even as he brought abusive priests into our diocese such as John Salazar—wounds that still mark us today. I spoke with him often, pleading with him to reconsider his “no regrets” about bringing those priests here…
• Bishop Yanta, who sought to enforce the Dallas Charter even when Bishop Matthiesen resisted him, and who bore the personal and pastoral cost of doing so. I met with Bishop Yanta about Bishop Matthiessen’s “no regrets” stance. He listened. He believed me. He acted where he could. And when he retired, he urged me—quietly but firmly—to keep speaking out.
• Bishop Zurek, who told the Diocese of Amarillo he had “no facts” about the Philadelphia report even as Amarillo’s connection to that tragedy was headline news. When I continued to speak out, as Bishop Yanta had once urged me to do, he later wrote that I was not among the faithful and loyal disciples whom the Lord Jesus desires.
• Bishop Daniel Cardinal DiNardo…

While we recognize your thoughtful suggestion for a renewed dialogue on Bishop Matthiesen, the present circumstances do not present an opportunity for it. I think it would foster division not dialogue. We remain confident in God’s providence and hopeful for what the future may bring.

from a letter dated March 5, 2026