1ST READING
Daniel
exposes the corruption in the hearts of the men accusing Susana and so
saves her life. Let us take care that the desires of our own hearts are
kept in check so that we do not follow a similar path of sin and
corruption. It is so easy to start down that path and it can be very
difficult to put on the brakes so to speak. It is much better and
simpler to avoid the path completely.
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 (or 13:41-62)
1 [Dan 13:1] In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, 2 [Dan 13:2] who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; 3 [Dan 13:3] her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses. 4 [Dan 13:4] Joakim
was very rich; he had a garden near his house, and the Jews had
recourse to him often because he was the most respected of them all. 5 [Dan 13:5] That
year, two elders of the people were appointed judges, of whom the Lord
said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon: from the elders who were to
govern the people as judges.” 6 [Dan 13:6] These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the house of Joakim. 7 [Dan 13:7] When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk. 8 [Dan 13:8] When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her. 9
[Dan 13:9] They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments. 15 [Dan 13:15] One
day, while they were waiting for the right moment, she entered the
garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe, for the
weather was warm. 16 [Dan 13:16] Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were watching her. 17 [Dan 13:17] “Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids, “and shut the garden doors while I
bathe.” 19 [Dan 13:19] As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her. 20 [Dan 13:20] “Look,” they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our desire, and lie with us. 21 [Dan 13:21] If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.” 22 [Dan 13:22] “I am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned. “If I yield, it will be my death; if I
refuse, I cannot escape your power. 23 [Dan 13:23] Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.” 24 [Dan 13:24] Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her, 25 [Dan 13:25] as one of them ran to open the garden doors. 26 [Dan 13:26] When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden, they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her. 27 [Dan 13:27] At the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never had any such thing been said about Susanna. 28 [Dan 13:28] When
the people came to her husband Joakim the next day, the two wicked
elders also came, fully determined to put Susanna to death. Before all
the people they ordered: 29 [Dan 13:29] “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the wife of Joakim.” When she was sent for, 30 [Dan 13:30] she came with her parents, children and all her relatives. 33 [Dan 13:33]
All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping. 34 [Dan 13:34] In the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her head. 35 [Dan 13:35] Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly. 36 [Dan 13:36] The
elders made this accusation: “As we were walking in the garden alone,
this woman entered with two girls and shut the doors of the garden,
dismissing the girls. 37 [Dan 13:37] A young
man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her. 38 [Dan 13:38] When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them. 39 [Dan 13:39] We saw them lying together, but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we; he opened the doors and ran off. 40 [Dan 13:40] Then we seized this one and asked who the young man was, 41 [Dan 13:41] but she refused to tell us. We testify to this.” The assembly believed them, since they
were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death. 42 [Dan 13:42] But Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be: 43 [Dan 13:43] you
know that they have testified falsely against me. Here I am about to
die, though I have done none of the things with which these wicked men
have charged me.” 44 [Dan 13:44] The Lord heard her prayer. 45 [Dan 13:45] As she was being led to execution, God stirred up
the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, 46 [Dan 13:46] and he cried aloud: “I will have no part in the death of this woman.” 47 [Dan 13:47] All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?” 48 [Dan 13:48] He
stood in their midst and continued, “Are you such fools, O children of
Israel! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without
clear evidence? 49 [Dan 13:49] Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”
50 [Dan 13:50] Then
all the people returned in haste. To Daniel the elders said, “Come, sit
with us and inform us, since God has given you the prestige of old
age.” 51 [Dan 13:51] But he replied, “Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.” 52 [Dan 13:52] After
they were separated one from the other, he called one of them and said:
“How you have grown evil with age! Now have your past sins come to
term: 53 [Dan 13:53] passing
unjust
sentences, condemning the innocent, and freeing the guilty, although the
Lord says, ‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’ 54 [Dan 13:54] Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me 216 under what tree you saw them together.” 55 [Dan 13:55] “Under
a mastic tree,” he answered. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost
you your head,”for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two.” 56 [Dan 13:56] Putting
him
to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. Daniel said to
him, “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust
has subverted your conscience. 57 [Dan 13:57] This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel, and in their fear they yielded to you; but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness. 58 [Dan 13:58] Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.” 59 [Dan 13:59] “Under an oak,” he said. Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you
also your head, for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both.” 60 [Dan 13:60] The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in Him. 61 [Dan 13:61] They
rose up against the two elders, for by their own words Daniel had
convicted them of perjury. According to the law of Moses, they inflicted
on them the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor: 62 [Dan 13:62] they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.
P S A L M
Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
R: Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for You are at my side.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
(R) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
is quite scathing at the lack of faith of the leaders of the Jews,
because, of all the people, they should have been the first to recognize
the Gospel as the truth and follow Him. This just goes to show how
strong the temptation to foster self-interest is. We often see it in the
world of politics and economics. Unfortunately, it is also alive in the
Church. Let us work to rid it from all areas of our lives.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.
John 8:12-20
12 Jesus
spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.” 14 Jesus
answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my
testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I
am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
15 You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. 18 I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.” 19 So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me
nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He
spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area.
But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
think: Let us take care that the desires of our own hearts are kept in check so that we do not follow a path of death and sin.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 13-15
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