Scripture for Your Inner Outcasts

Transcript

"So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She replied, 'No one, sir.' Then Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.'"

You are listening to Scripture for Your Inner Outcasts. Today is March 23rd, 2026, Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent. Today's guest is Lisa Barrett, a psychotherapist in private practice based in Sydney, Australia, and a member of Souls and Hearts' Resilient Catholics Community and the Formation for Formators Community.

This passage is from the Gospel of John. "So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She replied, 'No one, sir.' Then Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.'" Do you feel condemned by an inner critical part? Your parents, your boss, partner, family, friends, or even just society? Jesus does not condemn you and he shows us the importance of this attitude of non-condemnation by the challenge he offers those who are ready to throw stones at you. What does it feel like to hear that when you are alone with Jesus, you are accepted, loved, and safe? Can you notice how he is speaking to you? When everyone has gone, when you are alone, he speaks to you now in the depths of your rejection. You have been left alone. Yet he is with you, waiting for this moment. Jesus calls you to live the good life you desire. He is open and lacking in criticism. This can feel strange when you're not used to it, yet it is always available to you, this compassion. God is always seeing you with love in his eyes. When you are alone with him, this is the truth. He speaks to your heart. It may be quite different from the words you are holding in your heart, quite different from the beliefs you have formed, that your sin makes you unwelcome, embarrassing, unworthy to participate or to be seen or to express yourself. These are the burdens that you have picked up that are not serving you. The untruths, the lies that you are so familiar with. These are what Jesus turns upside down. He is not interested in focusing on your mistakes. He does not consider you less because you feel empty, terrified, or ashamed. He does not hold a shred of condemnation towards you, but he welcomes you to life, to step freely and openly into the world, knowing your worth and value. He invites you to feel his eyes of appreciation and compassion on you.

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Mother Mary, Untier of Knots, pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.