In Mary’s first-century Mediterranean and Judean world, she lived to bring honor to her father and family. Yet, when asked by God to bear the Messiah, she fully consented to all that lay ahead, giving space for God, even though the consequences as an unmarried woman could be grave. Mary’s world was, in no way, a world like ours in the West today where women have minds of their own. To better understand Mary’s yes, we will consider Mary as God-Bearer, Contemplative and Prophet.

Through the story of the Woman Caught in Adultery in John’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to drop the stones that prevent us from letting go of our need for control and our hesitancy to forgive. What stones do you struggle to drop?