March
14, 2016
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Reading 1
Daniel
13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
In
Babylon there lived a man named Joakim, who married a very beautiful and
God-fearing woman, Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah; her pious parents had
trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.
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.
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.” These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the
house of Joakim.
When
the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk.
When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for
her. They suppressed their consciences; they would not allow their eyes to look
to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments.
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. Nobody
else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were
watching her. “Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids, “and shut the
garden doors while I bathe.”
As
soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her.
“Look,”
they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us; give in to our
desire, and lie with us. If you refuse, we will testify against you that you
dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.”
“I
am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned. “If I yield, it will be my death; if I
refuse, I cannot escape your power. Yet it is better for me to fall into your
power without guilt than to sin before the Lord.”
Then
Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her, as one of them ran to
open the garden doors. 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.
At
the accusations by the old men, the servants felt very much ashamed, for never
had any such thing been said about Susanna.
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: “Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, the
wife of Joakim.” When she was sent for, she came with her parents, children and
all her relatives. All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.
In
the midst of the people the two elders rose up and laid their hands on her
head. Through tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord
wholeheartedly.
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. A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her. When we, in a
corner of the garden, saw this crime, we ran toward them. 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. Then we seized her and asked who the young man
was, 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.
But
Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of
all things before they come to be: 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.”
The
Lord heard her prayer. As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the
holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, and he cried aloud: “I will have no
part in the death of this woman.”
All
the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?” 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?
Return
to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”
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.” But he
replied, “Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”
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: 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.’
Now,
then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.” “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.”
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. 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. Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.” “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.”
The
whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in him. 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: they put them to death. Thus was
innocent blood spared that day.
Or
Daniel 13:41C-62
The
assembly condemned Susanna to death. But Susanna cried aloud:
“O
eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they
come to be: 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.”
The
Lord heard her prayer. As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the
holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel, and he cried aloud: “I will have no
part in the death of this woman.”
All
the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?”
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? Return
to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”
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.” But
he replied, “Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”
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:
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.’
Now,
then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.” “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.”
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. 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. Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them
together.” “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.”
The
whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those who hope in him. 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: they put them to death. Thus
was innocent blood spared that day.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6
R.
(4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my
side.
The
LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside
restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
R.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
He
guides me in right paths for his name’s sake.
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.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You
spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with
oil; my cup overflows.
R.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
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.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Verse Before The Gospel
Eekiel 33:11
I
take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in
his conversion, that he may live.
Gospel
John 8:12-20
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.”
So
the Pharisees said to Him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony
cannot be verified.”
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. You judge by appearances,
but I do not judge anyone. 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. Even in your law it is
written that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I
testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.”
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.”
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.
Or
John 8:1-11
(When
Year A readings are employed on the 5th Sunday of Lent)
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.”
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Dear Humanity,
I personally encourage everyone to emulate JESUS' values on LOVE, FAITH, HOPE
and CHARITY, as the humanity has been a failure; which resulted to the more than two (2) years of pandemic and its after-effects on economy, not only here in the Philippines but worldwide.
And the saddest part of it, is that, it affected the POOREST of the POOR to even extremely be more poorer, in exchange of the affluent to be more richer.
Thank you and may GOD bless you and the whole family to have an enjoyed life's journey at home, Church, schools/universities, corporate commitments, public and places of interest.