Dear Brother and Sister in Christ,
Welcome to Catholic Mass Readings in Biblemsg.com. We are on the March 27, 2023 in the 5th Friday of Lent. Today’s Mass readings and reflection on Daniel 13:41-62; John 8:1-11. In our daily reflection today, the Main theme is Trust during the test!
Catholic Mass Readings
Main Theme of the Day: Trust during the test!
Table of Contents
Today’s Readings
| First Reading | Daniel 13:41-62 |
| Gospel Reading | John 8:1-11 |
First Reading
Daniel 13:41-62
41 The assembly believed them, since they were elders and judges of the people, and they condemned her to death.
42 But Susanna cried aloud: “O eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be:
43 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.”
44 The Lord heard her prayer.
45 As she was being led to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
46 and he cried aloud: “I will have no part in the death of this woman.”
47 All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?”
48 He stood in their midst and continued, “Are you such fools, O Israelites! To condemn a woman of Israel without examination and without clear evidence?
49 Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”
50 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.”
51 But he replied, “Separate these two far from one another that I may examine them.”
52 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:
53 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.’
54 Now, then, if you were a witness, tell me under what tree you saw them together.”
55 “Under a mastic tree,” he answered. “Your fine lie has cost you your head,” said Daniel; “for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him and split you in two.”
56 Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought. “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah,” Daniel said to him, “beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience.
57 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.
58 Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.”
59 “Under an oak,” he said. “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,” said Daniel; “for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two so as to make an end of you both.”
60 The whole assembly cried aloud, blessing God who saves those that hope in him.
61 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:
62 they put them to death. Thus was innocent blood spared that day.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 (R. 4ab)
Response: Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Gospel
John 8:1-11
1 while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 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.
3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle.
4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”
6 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.
7 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.”
8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him.
10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more.”
Catholic Homily for Today
Focus: Truth is often contested and condemned because of false witnesses and wrong judgments. We need to remember that God appreciates a truthful and witnessing life
1. In today’s word of God, the theme of witness attracts our attention. In the first reading, the innocent Susanna is falsely accused of adultery by false witnesses; but Daniel being filled with the Holy Spirit stands in her cause and bears true witness. In the gospel, Jesus speaks of himself and the Father as the two authentic witnesses in his cause.
2. It is good to ask, often, why there is false witness and judgement. In the words of Jesus, it is because people are led by the flesh and not the Spirit. It is because they know not God, neither the Father nor the Son. It is because they do not have the light of life; they do not follow the light but prefer to walk in darkness. In the similar words of Daniel in the first reading, people witness falsely and judge falsely because beauty deceives them and lust perverts their hearts.
3. When we too do not know God, do not have and follow the light and walk in darkness, when we too think, speak and act according to the perversions of the flesh, when we do not give abide in truth and do not mind about causing harm to the other, then we too succumb to the falsity of witness and judgement.
4. What then is the remedy to bear true witness? Like Daniel, we must be open to being filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Thus, we too can stand courageously amidst and against all the falsities. He was just a young lad but stood up because he was with God. He did not feel intimidated to raise a lone voice against the judges, men in authority. He could challenge and rebuke their false judgement because he was led by God and by human power.
5. Then, unlike the unbelieving Jews, we must personally know Jesus, we must know where he comes from and where he goes. We must know and believe that he came from the Father and goes back to the Father. We must believe that the Father and the Son are one; they bear witness to each other. Further, we must follow Jesus who is the light of the world.
Direction: In times of desperation and crisis, Susanna did not give up hope. She did not question God, nor was she shaken in her faith. She totally surrendered her cause to God. God intervened and vindicated her innocence
Note
Hope you had a good experience reading the catholic reflection for the day. With another inspiring message we shall meet in the next post. Stay Tuned in Biblemsg.com Thank You.
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