Source Summit … 'make The Most Of It'

More than 450 young people and young adults attended the 2016 Source Summit Retreat at Reitz Memorial High School March 11-13, and approximately 85 adults attended the adult retreat on March 12 at Annunciation Parish’s Christ the King campus in Evansville. They enjoyed opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and presentations from noted Catholic musicians John Michael Talbot and Kara Klein.

During the March 13 closing Mass in the Memorial High School gym, Bishop Charles C. Thompson suggested that the collective opportunity Source Summit provides has a foundation in the day’s Gospel reading – the story of the woman caught in adultery – and the “bullies” who used her to try to undermine Jesus.

Bishop Thompson asked those at Mass why they think people act like bullies, then condensed the several good answers he received. “Bullies are people who exploit someone else’s weaknesses to take the focus off their own vulnerabilities,” he said. “Who are the bullies in the Gospel? The Pharisees. Who is being bullied?  The woman caught in adultery … and Jesus. Actually, they’re using the woman to exploit Jesus – which is even worse because they dehumanized her.

“I’ve always been fascinated by this story,” the bishop continued. “They said they caught the woman in adultery. Where’s the guy involved in this story? Did you ever wonder whether he’s one of the people holding a stone? “They bring her before (Jesus), and they ask Him what should be done. ‘The law says … she should be stoned.’

“Imagine, in the midst of all that chaos, the calmness of Jesus,” Bishop Thompson said. “When things are going all chaotic in our lives, then things aren’t going right, it’s important to remember the calmness of Jesus – the peace of Christ in our lives. So here’s that chaotic moment, and Jesus is calmly writing on the ground. And finally, when they push him on what’s to be done, we know that great line from him, ‘Let one without sin cast the first stone.

“And of course, what do they do? They walk away,” the bishop added.

The bishop explained to the young people who spent the weekend in the retreat – and the families and friends who joined them for the Sunday Mass – that Jesus offered reconciliation to everyone in the story.

“There’s a great line about this story of the woman caught in adultery,” he added. The line is, ‘this is where human misery meets divine mercy.’ Pope Francis says the Sacraments are not awards for the perfect; they’re medicine for the sick. Many of you had the opportunity to celebrate prayer, Adoration, the Mass and reconciliation – all of those different ways to receive medicine.

This is an opportunity to let go of our self-righteousness, let go of anger … guilt,” Bishop Thompson said. “This weekend has been an opportunity for you. Make the most of it. Allow your lives to encounter, time and again through Word and Sacrament, the Divine Mercy of God … Jesus Christ, who is the face of the Father’s Mercy.

“This is your opportunity. Make the most of it.”