Title: Meditation: Monday, March 18, 2002
The Catholic Calendar for Monday, March 18, 2002
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62
Psalm 23:1-6
John 8:1-11
A reflection on today's Scripture:
Who's gonna throw the first stone at her? (see: John 8:7)
Human justice will remain forever flawed as long as laws are made and
administered by those whose morality is not based on the truth and love
that comes to us from God. Human flesh is influenced by many lusts; the
deadliest of these is lust for the blood of those who thwart our
designs. Today's readings contrast this viciousness with God's
compassionate concept of justice.
Daniel's test of Susanna's accusers saved her life by exposing their
lies spawned by their unsatisfied lust for the girl. Jesus used a
similar tactic to reveal the truth when He wrote on the ground His reply
to the men who asked Him what should be done with the woman caught in
adultery. They wished to use this occasion to test Jesus' faithfulness
to the law that required her being stoned to death for her offense.
We need not wonder what Jesus wrote in the dust. Undoubtedly it was a
pointed reminder to the men of sins they had committed that may well
have included adulterous unions, perhaps with this very woman. God's
justice does not seek vengeance; it wills to bring souls to salvation
rather than destruction. His plan for sinners is repentance, reform and
a renewal of their lives; Christ's final, words to the adulterous woman
were not a reprimand but an invitation to rebirth in a new life.
God's justice is mitigated by His deep compassion and is best
illustrated by Christ's final act of totally giving Himself on the cross
in our place.
Saving Lord,
help us to see the true state of our hearts,
that we may seek forgiveness, cleansing
and renewal in Your boundless love. Amen
- Marie L. Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible.
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