All Michigan Catholic Charismatic Conference

From talks by Fr. Richard McAlear

"If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you 'give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water." John 4:10

The gift of God is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is living water.

John 8:1-11 -- The woman caught in adultery is a snapshot of the gospel message: "Woman..." You are that person. Read the passage putting your own name in.
He lowered himself (incarnation)
wrote in the dirt (man was made from dust)
with his finger (if, by the finger of God,...)
raised himself up (resurrection)

Parallels story of Susanna in the Old Testament. In the old, the emphasis was justice -- he saved the just. In the new testament, he saved the unjust (forgave). She was brought to the temple to be shamed, embarrassed and humiliated. They hoped to shame Jesus, embarrass him and humiliate him. Thus, Jesus identified himself with the sinful. He is the friend of sinners. Therefore it is shameful for us to act out of arrogance toward another, because we are ALL sinners (we have all fallen short of the glory of God.) It grieves the Holy Spirit that we would think ourselves better than others who are sinful.