Saved

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032315.cfm) reminds me of the saving power and goodness of God.

In the first reading, we see how wicked people abuse their power. Nowadays, this is still rampant. People in power and authority abuse their position to get what they want. They prey on helpless people who in the sense of the world cannot do anything against them. A lot really feel that cannot do anything about it and just let themselves be abused, even if it is against their will. However, we know some are like Susanna who will be willing to die and suffer the consequences of  going against powerful people in the world.

God’s power is greater than that of the devil.

It seemed like a hopeless case, people believed the lies of the leaders, but God stirred up the holy spirit of Daniel and eventually Susanna was spared and the two wicked people were punished. God cannot be controlled by the powers of the devil in the world. even if the situation may seem hopeless, God can still and will always make a way for those who trust in Him – saving them from sin and from evil, be it in this world and the next.

However, God is not only good to those who have faith in Him. He saves not only those who trusts in him. We see in the gospel that he saves even those guilty. His goodness is greater than our sins – no matter how grave our sins are, God is able and willing to forgive us. He just asks us one thing in return – to go and sin no more.

May we be inspired to know how loving, forgiving and redeeming our God is.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder, Lord. I am sorry for the times I turn my back on you. Sorry for the times I feel I cannot or you cannot do anything about the situation. Sorry for succumbing to the enemy. Lord, I ask that you help me surrender to you. As I experience your love, your power and your forgiveness, may I live my life straight for you. Amen.

Blessed week!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 23, 2015

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Lectionary: 251

Reading 1 Dn 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 PS 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6R. (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 Ez 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 Jn 8:1-11

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.”