Wickedness must answer to the righteousness of God

-

Today's readings remind me that the power of wickedness will always be overcome by the righteousness of God.

 The first reading from Chapter 13 in the book of Daniel tells the story of Susanna. She is falsely accused of adultery by two judges whose sexual advances she has refused. The law requires two witnesses to substantiate a charge, and Susanna is condemned to death by stoning. Daniel – a man full of God's wisdom – arrives, questions the two judges separately before the people and exposes their lies. Susanna is proven innocent and the judges are put to death.

Psalm 23 reminds us of God's promises to those who walk with God as their Shepherd. When they are falsely accused or persecuted for their righteousness, it is God who will vindicate them before their accusers:

“You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

In today's Gospel (Jn 8:12-20), Jesus pronounces His second of seven “I Am” statements found in the Gospel of John: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The Pharisees refuse to believe Him or His testimony that He and the Father share. They “judge by appearances,” walking in darkness, convinced they are walking in God's light. Despite their wishes to have Him arrested, they are unable, “because his hour had not yet come.”

God my Father, I place all my trust in Your goodness today. I choose to believe that You are at my side through every struggle I encounter. Acquit me, then, in Your perfect timing, of all false accusations, and seat me as Your beloved at Your bounteous table, in the sight of my foes. Keep my loved ones and me sheltered beneath Your wings, and guided by Your Holy Spirit; give us unshakable confidence in Your promises to us in Christ, Who is our Light and Hope. I make this prayer to You in His most holy Name. Amen.

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040422.cfm

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Spirit sets us free

-
Today's readings present a freedom that only God can give. This freedom does not make sense to the carnal mind that outwardly defines us by worldly accomplishments, possessions and prestige. The freedom of God's Spirit, poured into our hearts (Rom 5:5), defines us from within. The Gospel reading ( Jn 3:7b-15 ) presents Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a member of the ruling Sanhedrin, a Pharisee and secret believer in Jesus. Jesus tells him, “You must be born from above.” The Lord continues: “ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Jesus, the Son of Man, must be “lifted up”, “just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert... so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” The Holy Spirit, like the wind, blows where it wills – the Holy Spirit is free! The first reading ( Acts 4:32-37 ) tells us somethi...
Read more

Tuesday, Octave of Easter: I have seen the Lord!

-
 For eight days the Church celebrates the Octave of Easter. This makes the Easter solemnity (the most important of feasts of the Church year are solemnities) an eight day celebration, from Sunday to Sunday. Today's Gospel tells the story of Mary Magdalen's encounter with the Risen Jesus. She runs to Him and hugs Him. This is not just a spiritual experience; He is truly risen in His glorified body. Mary has been looking for Jesus in a tomb, among the dead. But Jesus is risen and among the living. This is the Easter Jesus we believe in. He is risen in the flesh and among us in the power of His Spirit. There is a longstanding tradition that Mary Magdalen, her sister Martha and brother were expelled from Palestine after Jesus' resurrection, set adrift in a boat on the open seas, landing in France. There, they witnessed to the Risen Jesus, establishing communities of believers in various parts of the country.* Nothing can stop the power of the Risen Christ when we have yielde...
Read more

But the Lord laid upon him the guilt of us all. (Is 53:6)

-
 Today's Good Friday readings begin with Isaiah's fourth suffering servant song. It is a powerful prophetic testimony to the sufferings that will be endured by Jesus, Who takes upon Himself our sins to make us righteous before the Father. The word tells us, “ He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. ...through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.  Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divid...
Read more