MARCH 18, 2024
Monday, 5th Week of Lent —
S. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Optional Memory
FIRST READING
“Behold, I am going to die, without having done any of this” (Dn 13, 41c-62 (short reading))
Reading the book of the prophet Daniel
In those days,
the people had just condemned Suzanne to death.
Then she cried out with a loud voice,
“Eternal God,
you who understand secrets,
you who know all things before they happen,
you know that they have borne false witness against me.
Here I am going to die, without having done anything
that their wickedness has imagined against me. »
The Lord heard his voice.
As she was being led to her death,
God awakened the spirit of holiness
in a very young boy named Daniel,
who began to cry out with a loud voice:
“I am innocent
of this woman’s death!” »
All the people turned to him and they asked him:
“What does this word mean that you have spoken? »
Then, standing in the midst of the people, he said to them:
“Son of Israel, are you crazy?
Without questioning, without seeking the truth,
you have condemned a daughter of Israel.
Return to court,
for these people have given false testimony against her. »
So all the people returned in haste,
and the body of elders said to Daniel,
“Come and sit among us
and give us explanations,
for God has already made you an elder. »
And Daniel said to them:
“Separate them well one from the other,
I will question them. »
When they were separated,
Daniel called first and said to him:
“You who have grown old in evil,
you now bear the weight of the sins
which you once committed
by judging unjustly:
you condemned the innocent
and you acquitted the guilty,
whereas the Lord said:
“You shall not put to death the innocent and the righteous.”
Well ! If you really saw this woman,
tell us under which tree
you saw them giving themselves to each other? »
He replied:
“Under a sycamore.” »
Daniel said:
“This is precisely a lie that condemns you:
the angel of God has received a command from God,
and he is going to put you to death. »
Daniel sent him away, brought the other
and said to him:
“You are of the race of Canaan and not of Judah!
Beauty has led you astray
and desire has perverted your heart.
This is how you treated the daughters of Israel,
and out of fear they gave themselves to you.
But a daughter of Judah
could not consent to your crime.
Tell me, under what tree
did you see them giving themselves to each other? »
He replied:
“Under a chestnut tree.” »
Daniel said to him:
“You too, here is precisely a lie which condemns you:
the angel of God waits, sword in hand,
to punish you,
and to destroy you. »
Then the whole assembly uttered a great shout
and blessed God who saves those who hope in him.
Then she turned against the two elders
whom Daniel had convinced of false testimony
through their own mouths.
In accordance with the law of Moses,
they were made to suffer the punishment
that their wickedness had imagined against their neighbor:
they were put to death.
And that day, an innocent life was spared.
– Word of the Lord.
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