Daily Readings - Mon Mar 18 2024
John
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.7But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories that explore themes of justice, mercy, and the integrity of faith. The first reading from Daniel tells the story of Susanna, a righteous woman falsely accused by two corrupt elders. Despite the danger, Susanna refuses to compromise her faith, trusting in God’s deliverance. Through the wisdom of Daniel, the truth is revealed, and justice is served. The Gospel from John presents a similar scenario: a woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus. While the Pharisees seek to condemn her, Jesus challenges them to examine their own sinfulness before judging others. In the end, Jesus offers her mercy and a new beginning.
Both stories highlight the importance of standing firm in the face of injustice and the transformative power of God’s mercy. In Daniel, we see how corruption and false accusations can threaten the innocent, but also how God’s justice prevails through the courage of Susanna and the wisdom of Daniel. In John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us that true judgment must be tempered with compassion and self-reflection. These readings remind us that our faith is not just about following rules but about living with integrity and trusting in God’s providence.
In our daily lives, these stories call us to reflect on how we judge others and ourselves. Do we act with the integrity of Susanna, refusing to compromise our values even in difficult situations? Do we extend the same mercy to others that Jesus offered the woman caught in adultery? Let us strive to be people of truth and compassion, trusting in God’s justice and grace. May we, like Susanna and the woman in the Gospel, find the strength to stand firm in our faith and to live with hearts open to God’s love.