Mar 22 2021

First reading Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62

Susannah and the elders

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim. He had married Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and she was God-fearing, because her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses. Joakim was a very rich man, and had a garden attached to his house; the Jews would often visit him since he was held in greater respect than any other man. Two elderly men had been selected from the people that year to act as judges. Of such the Lord said, ‘Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to the people.’ These men were often at Joakim’s house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come to them. At midday, when everyone had gone, Susanna used to take a walk in her husband’s garden. The two elders, who used to watch her every day as she came in to take her walk, gradually began to desire her. They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to heaven, and forgetting its demands of virtue. So they waited for a favourable moment; and one day Susanna came as usual, accompanied only by two young maidservants. The day was hot and she wanted to bathe in the garden. There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place. She said to the servants, ‘Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door while I bathe.’

Hardly were the servants gone than the two elders were there after her. ‘Look,’ they said ‘the garden door is shut, no one can see us. We want to have you, so give in and let us! Refuse, and we will both give evidence that a young man was with you and that was why you sent your maids away.’ Susanna sighed. ‘I am trapped,’ she said ‘whatever I do. If I agree, that means my death; if I resist, I cannot get away from you. But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.’ Then she cried out as loud as she could. The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame on her, and one of them ran to open the garden door. The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what was happening; once the elders had told their story the servants were thoroughly taken aback, since nothing of this sort had ever been said of Susanna.

Next day a meeting was held at the house of her husband Joakim. The two elders arrived, in their vindictiveness determined to have her put to death. They addressed the company: ‘Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim.’ She was sent for, and came accompanied by her parents, her children and all her relations. All her own people were weeping, and so were all the others who saw her. The two elders stood up, with all the people round them, and laid their hands on the woman’s head. Tearfully she turned her eyes to heaven, her heart confident in God. The elders then spoke. ‘While we were walking by ourselves in the garden, this woman arrived with two servants. She shut the garden door and then dismissed the servants. A young man who had been hiding went over to her and they lay down together. From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towards them. Though we saw them together we were unable to catch the man: he was too strong for us; he opened the door and took to his heels. We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was. She refused to tell us. That is our evidence.’

Since they were elders of the people, and judges, the assembly took their word: Susanna was condemned to death. She cried out as loud as she could, ‘Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?’

The Lord heard her cry and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy named Daniel who began to shout, ‘I am innocent of this woman’s death!’ At which all the people turned to him and asked, ‘What do you mean by these words?’ Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied, ‘Are you so stupid, sons of Israel, as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth? Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.’

All the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, ‘Come and sit with us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.’ Daniel said, ‘Keep the men well apart from each other for I want to question them.’ When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. ‘You have grown old in wickedness,’ he said ‘and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you, you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of guilty men, when the Lord has said, “You must not put the innocent and the just to death.” Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what tree you saw them lying under?’ He replied, ‘Under a mastic tree.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received your sentence from him and will slash you in half.’ He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him, ‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness! Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?’ He replied, ‘Under a holm oak.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting, with a sword to drive home and split you, and destroy the pair of you.’

Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the saviour of those who trust in him. And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their own mouths. As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment as they had intended to inflict on their neighbour. They put them to death; the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.

Responsorial Psalm 22(23)

If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit.

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff;

with these you give me comfort.

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for ever and ever.

Gospel John 8:1-11

‘Let the one among you who has not sinned be the first to throw a stone’

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’

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22nd March 2021 Monday 5th Week of Lent

Reflection
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62, John 8:1-11

“A merciful love”
“Neither do I condemn you. Go away, and from this moment sin no more.’: Jesus told these words to the woman who was caught committing adultery. His merciful love looked at her with the hope that she could change her life. In the eyes of Jesus, this woman was a person loved by God, and, as Pope Francis stated in a homily in 2016, “she was not her sin”.

Jesus’ words to this woman are meant for us too: “Neither do I condemn you. Go away, and from this moment sin no more.” Like this woman, we are unconditionally loved by God and His mercy always gives us a new opportunity to change, to live a new life. As we experienced God’s merciful love, we are also called to look at others with mercy, and not to throw stones of judgment at them. In this quiet time of prayer, let us look first at our own hearts and recognise our need for forgiveness and mercy. Listen to Jesus speaking personally to us, “I do not condemn you…go and love the same”.

Questions for reflection:
Who do I identify most in this story? Why?

22 hb Mac 2021 Hari Isnin Minggu Prapaska Ke – 5

Renungan
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62, Yohanes 8:1-11

“Cinta yang penuh belas kasihan”
“Akupun tidak menghukum engkau. Pergilah dan jangan melakukan dosa lagi.’: Yesus menyatakan kata-kata ini kepada wanita yang ditangkap berzina. CintaNya yang penuh belas kasihan memandang dia dengan harapan agar dia dapat mengubah hidupnya. Di mata Yesus, wanita ini adalah orang yang dikasihi Tuhan dan seperti yang dinyatakan oleh Pope Francis dalam homilinya pada tahun 2016, “dia bukan dosanya”.

Kata-kata Yesus kepada wanita ini dimaksudkan juga untuk kita: “AKupun tidak menghukum engkau. Pergilah dan mulai saat ini jangan melakukan dosa lagi.” Seperti wanita ini, Allah mengasihi kita tanpa batas dan belas kasihanNya sentiasa memberikan peluang baru untuk kita berubah, untuk menjalani hidup baru. Sewaktu kita mengalami belas kasihan Tuhan, kita juga dipanggil untuk melihat orang lain dengan penuh belas kasihan dan tidak melemparkan batu menghakimi mereka. Pada saat hening ini marilah melihat hati kita dan menyedari bahawa kita memerlukan pengampunan dan belas kasihan. Dengarkan Yesus yang berbicara secara peribadi kepada kita, “Akupun tidak menghukum engkau..pergilah dan tunjukkan kasih yang sama.”

Soalan renungan:
Siapakah peribadi dalam kisah ini yang lebih dekat dengan diri saya? Mengapa?

22 Mac 2021, Orou7i Kasaa’ Minggu’ Kalimo Prapaska

Danil 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; Juanis 8:1-11

Togom ondo’ makaasi’
“Aku pana kalo mangukum rirun. Raino ugar no am pai’ no pambaal ra tula.” Rinagu ri Jisus gitio ra sangulun ruandu’ ondo’ narampatan liminapau. Togom Nano ondo’ makaasi’ no magilong ra ruandu’ no pabayan ra kalansanan ondo’ makapangulau ruandu’ no ra kaayagan nano. Giu’ ra mato ri Jisus, ruandu’ ragitio sangulun ondo’ tagamin ri Aki Kapuuno’, am, sumugut ri Pope Francis ralalom homili nali gili ra 2016, “Ruandu’ no kalo makatula.”
Ragu ri Jisus ra ruandu’ ragitio makaarati’ ritakau niayuk: “Aku pana kalo mangukum rirun. Raino ugar no am pai’ no pambaal ra tula,” Koson ra ruandu’ ragitio, itakau tagamin ri Aki Kapuuno’ ondo’ kolondo’ polos no, am togom makaasi’ Nano masalok manaak ritakau ra kaluagan koson kumulau, maayag ralalom kaayagan bagu. Koson ra makakailian takau ra togom ondo’ makaasi’ ri Aki Kapuuno’, itakau niayuk piawon koson magilong ra ulun bokon ra makaasi’, am kalo momobol ra batu mangukum risilo. Paat ra pakiasian ti, ibok ilai’ takau galing guang takau am tutuno’ ondo’ gogoton koson mangampun am makaasi’. Rumogog ri Jisus ondo’ galama’ mibdagu ritakau, “Kalo mangukum Aku rirun…ugar no am pai’ no pambaal ra tula.”

Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
Osoi kia mauligan kuno tojojo ralalom tunung ragitio? Kua?

22-03-2021 Hari Minggu Lent Ka-5

Renungan
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62, John 8:1-11

“Pengerindu ti bepengasih. “
“Aku pen enda meh ngukum nuan. Mupuk meh nuan, tang anang agi bedosa.” Jesus nyaut indu ti kena tangkap butang. Pengerindu iya ti pengasih meda indu nya enggau pengandal ka iya deka ngubah pengidup iya empu. Ba mata Jesus, indu tu dikerindu Allah Taala, lalu munyi ko jako Pope Francis ba jako ajar iya ba taun 2016, “iya ukai dosa iya”. Jako Jesus ti bisi reti ba kitai mega: “Aku pen enda meh ngukum nuan. Mupuk meh nuan, tang anang agi bedosa.”

Baka indu tu, kitai dikerindu Allah Taala enggau nadai betakat lalu pengasih Iya seruran meri pengidup baru. Laban kitai udah kala ngasaika pengasih pengerindu Allah Taala, kitai mega dipinta awak meda orang bukai enggau pengasih, lalu enda nuku sida ngena enggau ngeletak ka ukum. Dalam awak besampi tu, aram kitai meresa ati kitai lalu ngelala ka kitai tu beguna pengampun enggau pengasih Iya. Dinga ka Jesus bejako ngagai kitai siko-siko, “Aku pen enda meh ngukum nuan. Mupuk meh nuan, gaga ka sama”.

Kati aku ulih nyema diri dalam Jerita tu? Lapa deh?

2021年3月22日四旬期第五周星期一

省思
«达十三:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62»
«若八:1-11»

” 仁慈的爱”

“我也不定你的罪；去吧！從今以後，不要再犯罪了。” 耶稣向那个被抓的犯奸淫女子说了这些话。祂仁慈的爱和充满希望地看着她可以改变自己的生活。在耶稣眼里，这个女人是天主所爱的人，正如教宗芳济各在2016年讲座中所说的，“她不是她的罪过”。

耶稣对这个女人所说的话也同样对我们说：“我也不定你的罪；去吧！從今以後，不要再犯罪了。” 就像这位女人一样，我们也无条件地被天主所爱和祂的怜悯总是给我们新希望带来改变的机会，过着新的生活。当我们经历了天主仁慈的爱，我们也被要求仁慈地对待其他人，不要向他们扔下判断的石头。在这段安静的祈祷时间里，让我们反省自己的内心，认识到我们需要宽恕和怜悯。聆听耶稣亲自对我们讲的话：“ 我不谴责你……同样的去彼此相爱 ”。

省思题：
在这个故事中，我能意识到谁是我？为什么？