Monday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

The readings are rich, powerful.

The story of Susanna captures an evil that threatens women and all vulnerable people: the abuse of a position of trust and power to gratify a slavish desire.  God, hearing Susanna’s plea, inspires the youth Daniel to intervene. Exposed, the elders receive the punishment they intended for Susanna.

In John, we hear of the woman caught in adultery. The idea was to trap Jesus, the teacher of God’s love and mercy. He would have to choose between following the letter of the Law while showing the Law overrode mercy, or, show mercy and violate the Law. Tellingly, only the woman is brought to Jesus. (Dt. 22: 22 actually requires both be stoned. Perhaps, there was a merciful interpretation for men?)

Any of God’s gifts can be abused: life, nature, sex, trust, the Law, and the Scriptures are vulnerable to the darkness of our minds and hearts. Far from violating the Law, Christ responds with the Love that motivated the giving of the Law and His own coming as the physician of wounded souls, the Law’s redemptive fulfillment.

Mercy, as Christ shows us and Pope Francis reminds us, is love at work in the world. It is not liberal indulgence. Sin is rebellion against God. True love makes demands, for the sake of the sinner, the beloved.

So, to the woman’s accusers, let him without sin cast the first stone. To the woman, I will not condemn you, go. However, Christ does not stop there, necessarily comes the command: sin no more.

Prayer

Father, grant us a share in the light of Your wise, generous love. Help us live a life that reveals Christ’s presence in our shadowed world. May we all work together overcoming the obstacles in the world and Church that limit what our sisters can show us of God’s love and mercy.

Eleanor and Peter Tumulty, Professor of Philosophy

Scripture

First Reading: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62

Psalm 23:1-6

Gospel: John 8:12-20

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website