40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Fifth Week of Lent, 27 March 2023 Daniel 13:41-62 >>> +++ <<< John 8:1-11
Thank you, God our merciful Father for the gift of Lent, for the chance for us to slow down and examine our sinfulness, not just our sins but the mechanics of our sinning as exemplified today in our two readings. Once again, we have our favorite sin at the spotlight, adultery; it is our favorite not because it is what we are so fond of committing but something we relish in accusing women of committing without examining our very selves. In the first reading, Susana was wrongly accused of adultery by two liars while in the gospel, a woman was caught committing adultery, truly guilty of the sin; in the first reading, a young boy named Daniel dared to examine Susana's accusers and eventually saved her from death after proving the two elders of perjury while in the gospel, Jesus Christ saved the adulterous woman from being stoned by standing by her side.
The problem with adultery, merciful Father, is how we forget our role in making it happen at all! And the worst part, is when we do nothing to defend women, both those wrongly accused and guilty of; teach me to be like Daniel and Jesus Christ, standing for women, defending women, caring for women, making peace with women. The problem with adultery happens when a few good men would not stand for what is true and just and human before others out of shame or courtesy or favors; the problem with adultery is when men and women think of themselves as less of a sinner, feeling entitled to accuse and judge others, rightly or wrongly, and forget to love more, to be more merciful, yet firm and truthful.
Bless us on this final stretch before entering the Holy Week to be more aware of our sinfulness, especially of our sins of omission that happen when we join the mob in accusing others of wrongdoing, not just adultery. Amen.
