Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Jn 8:12-20 Full Readings
God Will Fight For You
Brethren, when accusations are brought against you, how do you respond and where do you turn for help? The story in today's first reading about the lustful elders, Daniel and the innocent Susanna can help us answer this question. God in his own Wisdom, gives right judgments to each and everyone either by himself or through the ones he has chosen to minister to his people. This is the theme of today’s reflection: Don't fear, you who trust in the Lord, for God in his own Wisdom will fight for you. Wisdom is one of the most precious gifts God will ever give a human person, we Remember the great king of Israel, Solomon just asked for wisdom and all things came to him. God does not just have wisdom but instead, himself is Wisdom, therefore if God gives us Wisdom, he has given us himself. That's why the psalm states, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. God's Wisdom does wonders and inspires everyone.
In the first Reading Daniel shows extraordinary Wisdom from God. In the Jewish culture, wisdom went with age and so it was a surprise that Daniel, a young man, would use such wisdom to save Susanna only to realize that it was God at work in Daniel. St Benedict, in his rule, draws a teaching from this reading that God often gives wisdom to the youngest, not necessarily the most senior or the most experienced. We should also learn to listen to everyone even the youngest, God works through them too, even more often.
Adultery was also seen as a grave sin and was punished by a death sentence and therefore Susanna had no option rather than dying, but God in his wisdom saved her for she had only put her trust in God and didn't give up to the temptation to sin. God saves his righteous people, those who trust in him and even though they are falsely condemned, he comes to their rescue. There are very many people in prisons condemned unjustly while they are innocent, others we condemn them in our own daily lives may be in our families, communities schools, place of work, in mob justices and elsewhere; it's our duty to pray for them that the Lord will come to their rescue and that we also stop such behavior and always seek to know the truth.
Brethren, there is a penny of condemning others unjustly while we know the truth. The elders whom everyone trusted as a source of wisdom did not live up to their standards and examples by condemning Susanna unjustly because she had refused to sin with them. Reflect in your life, how often have you not lived up to your standards, how often have you not shown right example, how often have you not proved and lived up to the trust people have in you as their father, mother, elder sister, elder brother, boss, priest, brother, politician and any other authoritative role; and then readjust. Let us not be like the two elders, who by their evil deeds received the punishment which they had unjustly placed on Susanna. Do not judge others for you will be judged the same way.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that he is the light of the world. it is this light that enables us to dispel judgmental attitudes, condemnation of others and all sins especially lust and all sexual immoralities. This helps us not be like elders whom we see in the firs reading. May this light penetrate all our hearts and minds to always see others as God sees them especially, let us pray for all the judges to be used by God in passing judgments on others, that the Lord will shower upon them his wisdom to pass right judgments. We pray for lawyers who sometimes know the truth but they are speaking contrary to it that they should always seek the truth.
In chapter 8 of John's Gospel, we hear the account where Jesus publicly proclaims in the Temple at Jerusalem that he is the "light of the world" (John 8:12). Jesus spoke these words around the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Festival of Lights. This statement must have made a striking impression on the Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem for the occasion. For eight nights the great candelabras which stood in the Temple courtyard lit the Jerusalem skyline with a blaze of dazzling [extremely bright] light. Jesus' statement very likely came at the end of the Festival when the great lights where extinguished. In so many words, Jesus says he is the one true light which no one can extinguish or diminish (see John 1:4-5).He is the true light not only for God's chosen people Israel, but for all peoples and nations as well.
Sin and every form of wrong-doing cloud our vision of what is good and right and lead us down the wrong path away from God's truth and righteousness (moral goodness). God's light shows us the way that leads to peace, joy, happiness and fulfillment. The light which the Lord Jesus offers produces in us abundant life and great fruitfulness. Just as natural life depends on light for energy, warmth, and growth (without it nothing could live or grow), so the light of God's kingdom power produce in us new life in the Holy Spirit and the abundant fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control (Galatians 5:22,23). The light which the Lord Jesus gives enables us to walk freely and confidently without stumbling in the darkness of sin, ignorance, and unbelief. His light warms our heart to the truth of God's love and it opens our eyes to recognize the reality of God's kingdom at work within us. Do you walk confidently in the light of God's truth and love?
Let us Pray
May wisdom and light Lord penetrate our minds and hearts that all times we may be able to make right decisions and judgements in our daily lives. May these lead us to grow more in love for you and our neighbour instead of constant condemnation and accusations of each other. Amen
Be blessed.
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