Monday 8th April 2019. Read Daniel 13:1-62, Psalm 23 and John 8:12-20
_“You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me.” *(John 8:15-16)*_
When an item is stolen and thief joins in the search party, will that item ever be recovered? When one whose job it is to catch criminals becomes a criminal himself, will crime ever end? When a judge who has been vested with the sacred office of maintaining law and order in the society becomes corrupt, is there still hope for the common man?
The story of Susana is a very touching story; a story that teaches us how God will never abandon His children who remain faithful and upright regardless of the temptation they face in life. It is a true life story that tells of the courage of a well-trained innocent woman who preferred to die rather than consent to sin.
One great man once said: Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. The corrupt judges were powerful men so much so that they could decide who should live or die. Yet, in all their power, they could not resist the temptation of another man’s wife.
What brought them so low? We are told that these judges used to watch her every day as she took a walk in the garden. This is why we must be careful of what we feed our minds with. Be wise, don’t let your mind lead you into the devil’s dungeon, avoid immoral pictures, pornographic videos and messages. These judges so watched her that one day, they decided to hide in the bush while she was having her bath.
The judges felt they could blackmail her into giving in to their inordinate desire but she said something that is real food for thought: “I am completely trapped. For if I do this, it will mean death for me; if I do not, I cannot escape your hands. I choose not to do it; I will fall into your hands, rather than sin in the sight of the Lord.” (Susanna 1:22-23 or Daniel 13)
Dear friends, this should be our attitude when we are faced with temptation. As Jesus teaches, “what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul?” It is always better to die for God’s sake than to live in sin.
Nevertheless, when we stand for God, God never turns a blind eye at us. Our Psalmist today sings: “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want… He is true to his name if I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil will I fear… You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes.”
When all hope was lost for Susanna, God sent Daniel and endowed him with such wisdom and eloquence that no one could withstand him. The judges felt they had succeeded in putting an innocent woman to death not knowing they were just digging their own graves. When we are wicked to others, it always backfires at us.
The same judges who confessed to seeing this woman with a man gave conflicting answers when asked the name of the tree under which they saw the woman proving to the whole world they were telling lies. Each time we tell a lie, we make the devil our father. How? Jesus warned us saying: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44).
Always say the truth to shame the devil. Never allow evil fester in your heart. Keep your mind pure from all lustful desires and immoral thoughts. Always stand for what is right and true. Even if there is no one to defend you, God, who is your true shepherd will not leave you or forsake you to the hands of the evil ones.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, clean my heart from all impurity and give me the courage of Susana to always say “NO” to sin. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 5th Week of Lent. Bible Study: Daniel 13:1-62, Psalm 23 and John 8:12-20).
Fr. Abu.
Note: If your Bible does not contain Daniel 13, then it probably does not have the deutero-canonical books. I suggest you consult the Revised Standard Version, (Catholic Edition) which contains these books
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