Monday of the 5^th week of Lent

Daniel 13: 1-9.15-17.19-30.33-62   John 8: 1-11

Theme: Our evil desires

The 1^st reading of today from the prophet Daniel presents to us the popular story of Suzanna and the evil elders. In this story, we see how our evil desires can easily lead us astray, if we do not tame our desires. These were respectable elders from among the people, and they occupy a position of trust. One would expect that they will make good use of the wonderful position they occupy for the good of the people. Rather they make use of their position as a platform on which they manipulated the people for their evil desires. This is very clear from the assertion of Daniel that they were not bearing false witnesses or blackmailing the people for the first time, but it was only Suzanna who was able to stand up against their evil intentions and was ready to pay the price with her life.

The action of these elders is it still happening in our own time, yes and we all know it. People in positions of power and authority, exploiting the vulnerability of the weak, for their evil desires, just like the two elders in the case of Suzanna. Unfortunately, some of them may not be as lucky as Suzanna, who had Daniel who spoke up for her and rescued her from the devices of the evil elders. This reading is an admonition to all of us, especially those who use their position to exploit other people, you may not be caught today, but it is only a matter of time, and your evil plots will catch up with you. Now is the time to desist from such practices and use your position in a more credible and just way, for the good of all.

The uprightness of Suzanna may have given rise to why God sent Daniel to go and rescue her from the evil plans of the elders. They have been doing it and succeeding with others, who were too scared to resist their evil plans. But Suzanna was willing to go all the way, instead of offending God by doing the bidding of the elders. With the intervention of Daniel, the evil elders were exposed, and they suffered the same fate that they had planned for Suzanna.

Let us trust God and remain steadfast in all that we do, he will raise a Daniel to speak for us when it matters most, he never fails those who trust in him. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.