2026 Lenten Retreat

 TALK NINE

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Presenter: Fr. Paul Mueller, SJ

Theme: The Woman Caught in Adultery

Fr. Paul Mueller SJ was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended St. Xavier High School, a Jesuit school. He earned a degree in physics at Boston University. As a Jesuit he completed a M.A. in philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, and taught physics and mathematics at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in Chicago. He then earned two degrees at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley: master of divinity and master of sacred theology. After ordination, he earned a masters degree in physics at the University of Chicago and continued there to complete a doctorate in history and philosophy of science. He then served as professor of philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, where he was also academic dean of the Jesuit First Studies Program and of St. Joseph College Seminary. In 2010 Fr. Mueller was appointed religious superior of the Jesuit community at the Vatican Observatory, where he was also a member of the research staff. In 2022 he was appointed religious superior of the Jesuit community of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and in 2024 he was appointed Prefect of Libraries for the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Woman Caught in Adultery John 8:1-11

Then each went to his own house,

while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.

They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.

Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.

But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.

And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. 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.”