Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
(Daniel 13:1-9.15-17.19-30.33-62; John 8:12-20)
Pontius Pilate betrayed his conscience in condemning Jesus
to death. The gospels are quite clear
that he knew Jesus was innocent. But to
avoid trouble, he chose expediency over righteousness. In today’s readings two men serving as judges
act quite differently.
Daniel ingeniously ferrets out the truth from two lechers
who accuse a woman of attempted adultery.
He saves Susanna from being executed and has the real criminals
upended. In the gospel Jesus exhibits
similar judicial perspicacity. He
cleverly thwarts the plan of the Pharisees to report him to the Jewish
authorities for not complying with the Law.
Society needs just judges to function well. Even more we need Jesus. We require his prudence to help us fulfill
our daily responsibilities. Further, we cannot
hope for eternal life without the forgiveness and grace he won for us on the
cross.
