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First Reading: Daniel 13:41c-62
Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things charged against me.
The assembly condemned Susanna to death.
But Susanna cried aloud:
“O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me.”
The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
“I will have no part in the death of this woman.”
All the people turned and asked him,
“What is this you are saying?”
He stood in their midst and continued,
“Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”
Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
“Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age.”
But he replied,
“Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”
After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
“How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together.”
“Under a mastic tree,” he answered.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two.”
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him, “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah,
beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.”
“Under an oak,” he said.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,”
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both.”
The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R./ Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R./ Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R./ Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R./ Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come.
R./ Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Cycle A and B
John 8:1-11
Let the person without sin be the first to throw a stone.
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
Cycle C:
John 8:12-20
I am the light of the world.
Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
So the Pharisees said to him,
“You testify on your own behalf,
so your testimony cannot be verified.”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified,
because I know where I came from and where I am going.
But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.
And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid,
because I am not alone,
but it is I and the Father who sent me.
Even in your law it is written
that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.”
So they said to him, “Where is your father?”
Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father.
If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
He spoke these words
while teaching in the treasury in the temple area.
But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
Introduction
The first reading gives us the story about the restoring to life of the son of the hospitable woman of Shunem, who had given shelter to the prophet Elisha. The Gospel gives us the dramatic account of Jesus raising Lazarus. The greatest problems in human life are certainly the enemies of life: suffering and death. When we look up to Jesus, we see that he gave meaning to suffering by making it a way to serve God and people. He overcame our ultimate enemy, death, by coming to life again, by rising from the dead. Today, we see him defeating death not only in himself but in people, by raising his friend Lazarus. Let us ask him in this eucharist for a strong faith in the resurrection, which he prepares for us too.
Opening Prayer
Just and merciful God,
you take pity even on sinners
and you continue with them
a dialogue of grace and hope.
Help us never to condemn,
never to give up on people,
but to be patient, understanding, and forgiving,
together with you and Jesus, your Son,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.
General Intercessions
– For those among us, for whom it is very hard to forgive those who have hurt us, that we may be Christian enough to pardon and seek reconciliation, we pray:
– For people who have been falsely accused, that the truth may always prevail, we pray:
– For our communities, that we may still have a place for those who have erred, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, almighty Father,
you sent your Son among people
to serve rather than to be served.
Whatever power we have over others,
whether much or little,
may we never abuse it nor enjoy it for its own sake,
but may we always use it to serve and to encourage
like Jesus, your Son in our midst,
who lives with you for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Merciful God,
we have listened to the words of Jesus
and we are convinced
that he is the light of the world.
Give us also a clearer insight and faith
in what he did and does for people,
his healing, his forgiveness, his unbounded love,
for in them, you bear witness to him
that he is your beloved Son, our Savior and Lord.
Blessing
“I too do not condemn you.” May these be words we learn to say. Are we without sin? So, no stone-throwing on anyone. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
