Be gracious to me, o God, for men trample upon me, all day long foemen oppress me.

Ps 56:2

Meditation on Daniel 13:41c-62 (resp. Susanna 41c-62 in The Apocrypha) & John 8:(1-11) 12-20

Two women are at the centre of today's lessons: Susanna from the First Testament and the woman caught in adultery before Jesus, of whom we also heard in yesterday's Gospel reading. We also meet the men at whose mercy the women are and who take the liberty to condemn these women. This would normally cost the women their lives if it were not for two "new" men who are led by God's spirit: Daniel and Jesus of Nazareth. They refuse to join in the evil game. They look deeper than the others. They help sustain life. 

There are numerous depictions of Susanna in the Roman catacombs. Although completely innocent, she gets caught in the clutches of evil. The LORD rescues her because of her innocence and purity. 

The woman caught in adultery who is dragged before Jesus is by no means innocent and pure. And yet, he rescues her from the clutches of evil. And to the Pharisees, attacking him for so doing, he replies simply: "You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one" (John 8:15). His mission is to help human beings to have life, to have them to the light of life. The light, however, does not belittle them, it does not expose them but liberates them: " I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

We, too, are standing before God, and would actually be rightfully accused of wrongdoing. For even though we call ourselves Christians, we really are not. We are caught in the clutches of evil. And if we are really honest, we will never be able to extricate ourselves from evil by our own efforts alone. Jesus Christ stands up for us and saves us. He gives us the light that liberates us. 

However, his liberating act on our behalf also has to change our relationships to those we judge prematurely. Augustine recommends daring to be a friend, friendship which helps us to a deeper understanding of a human being: "We must never condemn a human being unknown to us, and we cannot really know anyone except through friendship" (div qu. 70:5). 

Who do I want to look at today with loving eyes, with the eyes of God?

A reflection written by Jeremias Kiesl O.S.A., Priest, Erfurt, Germany

Follow the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), Province of England and Scotland  

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