MONDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT - 2024

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I take pleasure, not in the death of a wicked man
– it is the Lord who speaks –
but in the turning back of a wicked man
who changes his ways to win life. EZ 33:11

DANIEL 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

This story about Susanna, the wicked judges, and Daniel is also a commentary on how the sins of the flesh can enslave, blind, and cause those in its grip to go to unbelievable lengths to punish those who reject their evil advances. In their rage at being thwarted, they become positively demonic in their desire to crush, smite, and destroy those who courageously refuse to succumb to evil. 

Susanna was raised right by God-fearing parents, what a wonderful testament this is of them, sadly this cannot be said of most parents today and this is why our young people have lost their way. Ignorant of God they try unsuccessfully to satisfy the aching void within them with the things of the world and fail miserably.  One can at least find excuses for the young but what Daniel said of the two evil judges can very well be said of many in our own time who use their positions to do evil  ‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness!’ Evil men and women can be found in all walks of life but it is even more heartbreaking when these people especially in the Church, use their office to prey upon the vulnerable.

Thankfully, there are a few like Susanna who are prepared to die rather than become victims of the wicked. They are prepared to die rather than sell their soul. ‘If I agree, that means my death; if I resist, I cannot get away from you. But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.’ 

They did their worst and Susanna was sentenced to death but she cried out to God and He heard her. Daniel, filled with the Holy Spirit and moved by Him was able to prove that those two evil judges had condemned an innocent woman to death. All too often we try to appease the world, the culture, and those in power especially if they have power over us. But there is another way, it is the way that You showed us and which many noble men and women have taken. Death rather than sin should be our battle cry in a wicked world.

Any time the innocent cry out to You O Lord, You will hear and answer, we just need to trust You for You are never deaf to the cry of the poor and needy.  No matter in what situation we find ourselves may we never cower in fear but trust You to deliver us in Your way, in Your time, and according to Your will.

PSALM 22(23) ©

The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
forever and ever.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.

JOHN 8:1-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

All too often in the course of history, women have been sinned against and sinned against gravely yet they are made scapegoats, humiliated, and punished while the man who aided, abetted, and participated in the sin goes scot-free. The woman taken in adultery from the Gospel of St. John is a clear example of this. 

You came from Mount Olivet to the temple at daybreak and already a crowd had gathered to listen to You preach and teach when:

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. 

The self-righteous especially if they are in positions of authority are judgmental, condemnatory, fault-finding nitpickers notoriously expert in veiling their own faults, failings, and immorality or whitewashing them. But You are God and these scribes and Pharisees would soon find out that they had more than met their match. How strange it seems that instead of reacting immediately You bend down and start writing on the ground with Your finger. Thinking that perhaps You were refusing to take the bait they persisted with their question. You look up and say to her accusers 

‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Bending down again You resumed writing on the ground. 

Then the incredible happens. Having heard You they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until You, O Lord, was left alone with her who remained standing there. Looking at her You said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She replied, ‘No one, sir’ And then she heard You say the blessed words that every penitent hears when they go for Confession:  ‘Neither do I condemn you, go away, and do not sin any more.’

Thank You, Lord, for the wonderful healing remedy to sin that You grant us in the  Sacrament of Confession.