Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Today's Mass Readings

In the first reading today, we hear the moving story of Susanna, an innocent and upright young woman who is wrongly accused of adultery by the two wicked elders. It is a narrative of God’s relentless longing for justice and his unceasing care for those who hope in him. Susanna’s prayer is one of complete faith in God: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden…you know that they have testified falsely against me” (Dn 13:42-43).

In parallel fashion, the gospel from St. John relates the account of another woman who has been has been accused of adultery and has been brought—not to wicked magistrates—but to Jesus for judgment. The scribes and Pharisees use the occasion to try to trap Jesus in order to bring some kind of charge against him. The intention hidden within their hearts is as wicked as the two elders of the Susanna story. Yes, in this case the woman is guilty of adultery, but these men are plotting not only the death of the woman, but of Jesus as well. Jesus, like young Daniel, sees through their scheme and turns the tables on his accusers in an unexpected way: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus levels out the field by reminding them that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness. The unnamed woman is met not with accusation and harsh judgment but with mercy and compassion: “Has no one condemned you?… Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore” (Jn 8:11). We are bidden this day to cast our cares on our loving Father when wrongly judged and to open our hearts to granting forgiveness to those who injure us, knowing that we too, are guilty of sin.

Prayer for Today: O merciful God of justice, in you we place our complete trust, knowing that you will not allow evil to triumph and that you will ever be at our side in the darkest of days.

Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB