Daily Mass Readings — Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
(Optional Commemoration of Saint Turibius of Mongrovejo, Bishop)
"But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord." — Daniel 13:23
Liturgical Context
Today is Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent, and the Church places before us one of the most dramatic narratives in the whole of the Old Testament: the story of Susanna, the chaste woman of Babylon, falsely accused, condemned to death, and rescued at the last moment by the Spirit of God speaking through the young Daniel. In the Fifth Week the Lenten readings grow ever more intense, tracing the arc of innocent suffering leading toward the Cross. Susanna is a type of Christ: accused by false witnesses, condemned by those in authority, her cause committed entirely to God. The Responsorial Psalm answers with the serenity of absolute trust in the divine Shepherd. The Gospel of the woman taken in adultery then shows the same dynamic reversed — here Christ is both the innocent One and the merciful Judge. Together the readings reveal the face of God: He who hears the cry of the falsely condemned, and He who refuses to condemn the truly guilty.
✠ First Reading — Daniel 13:1–9, 15–17, 19–30, 33–62
The Long Form — Susanna and the Elders
¹ Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was Joakim: ² And he took a wife whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God. ³ For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter according to the law of Moses. ⁴ Now Joakim was very rich, and had an orchard near his house: and the Jews resorted to him, because he was the most honourable of them all. ⁵ And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges that year, of whom the Lord said: Iniquity came out from Babylon from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people. ⁶ These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that had any matters of judgment came to them. ⁷ And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and walked in her husband's orchard. ⁸ And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they were inflamed with lust towards her: ⁹ And they perverted their own mind and turned away their eyes that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.
¹⁵ And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in on a time, as yesterday and the day before, with two maids only, and was desirous to wash herself in the orchard: for it was hot weather. ¹⁶ And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid themselves and were beholding her. ¹⁷ So she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing balls, and shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me.
¹⁹ Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and ran to her, and said: ²⁰ Behold the doors of the orchard are shut, and nobody seeth us, and we are in love with thee: wherefore consent to us, and lie with us. ²¹ But if thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee, and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from thee. ²² Susanna sighed, and said: I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not escape your hands. ²³ But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord. ²⁴ With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders also cried out against her. ²⁵ And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it. ²⁶ So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, they rushed in by the back door to see what was the matter. ²⁷ But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly ashamed: for never had there been any such word said of Susanna. And on the next day, ²⁸ When the people were come to Joakim her husband, the two elders also came full of wicked device against Susanna, to put her to death. ²⁹ And they said before the people: Send to Susanna daughter of Helcias the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent. ³⁰ And she came with her parents, and children, and all her kindred.
³³ Therefore her friends and all her acquaintance wept. ³⁴ But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid their hands upon her head. ³⁵ And she weeping looked up to heaven, for her heart had confidence in the Lord. ³⁶ And the elders said: As we walked in the orchard alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the orchard, and sent away the maids from her. ³⁷ Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with her. ³⁸ But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together. ³⁹ And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than us, and opening the doors he leaped out: ⁴⁰ But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses. ⁴¹ The multitude believed them as being the elders and the judges of the people, and they condemned her to death. ⁴² Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: O eternal God, who knowest hidden things, who knowest all things before they come to pass, ⁴³ Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me: and behold I must die, whereas I have done none of these things, which these men have maliciously forged against me. ⁴⁴ And the Lord heard her voice. ⁴⁵ And when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel. ⁴⁶ And he cried out with a loud voice: I am clear from the blood of this woman. ⁴⁷ Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What meaneth this word that thou hast spoken? ⁴⁸ But he standing in the midst of them, said: Are ye so foolish, ye children of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth, you have condemned a daughter of Israel? ⁴⁹ Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against her. ⁵⁰ So all the people turned again in haste, and the old men said to him: Come, and sit thou down among us, and shew it us: seeing God hath given thee the honour of old age. ⁵¹ And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one another, and I will examine them. ⁵² So when they were put asunder one from the other, he called one of them, and said to him: O thou that art grown old in evil days, now are thy sins come out, which thou hast committed before: ⁵³ In judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith: The innocent and the just thou shalt not kill. ⁵⁴ Now then, if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest them conversing together. He said: Under a mastic tree. ⁵⁵ And Daniel said: Well hast thou lied against thy own head: for behold the angel of God having received the sentence of him, shall cut thee in two. ⁵⁶ And having put him aside, he commanded that the other should come, and he said to him: O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thy heart: ⁵⁷ Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they for fear conversed with you: but a daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness. ⁵⁸ Now therefore tell me, under what tree didst thou take them conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree. ⁵⁹ And Daniel said to him: Well hast thou also lied against thy own head: for the angel of the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in two, and to destroy you. ⁶⁰ With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him. ⁶¹ And they rose up against the two elders, (for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth,) and they did to them as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbour, ⁶² To fulfill the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and innocent blood was saved in that day.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Commentary
Susanna's choice in verse 23 is the moral and spiritual heart of the entire narrative: it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord. She chooses certain death over certain sin. Saint Ambrose, in De Officiis, holds her up as the supreme example of the virtue of chastity — not merely physical modesty, but an interior ordering of the soul entirely toward God, such that no human threat can disturb it. The Challoner preface to this chapter notes that the history of Susanna was received by the Catholic Church from the very beginning as part of inspired Scripture, preserved in the Greek against the Hebrew canon. Her story is also a figure of the Passion: she is accused by false witnesses, condemned by the lawful authorities, her cause committed wholly to God — and God intervenes at the last moment not by preventing her suffering but by vindicating her truth. Daniel, raised up by the Spirit to speak in her defence, is a type of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who in every age defends innocent blood and exposes the lie.
✠ Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 22 (23):1–6
R. Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.
¹ The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. ² He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment: ³ He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake.
R. Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.
⁴ For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me. ⁵ Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!
R. Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.
⁶ And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.
R. Though I should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.
Commentary
After Susanna's ordeal, the Church places on our lips the most beloved of all the Psalms — the song of the soul that fears nothing because it knows its Shepherd. The valley of the shadow of death which Susanna walked is the very valley of this Psalm, and she emerged from it because the Lord ruled her and she wanted nothing else. Saint Thomas Aquinas notes that this Psalm describes the threefold provision of God for His people: guidance on right paths, protection in dark valleys, and the banquet of eternal life (Expositio in Psalmos, Ps. 22). The table prepared against them that afflict me — the very adversaries who sought her death — becomes the table of vindication and joy. For those walking the final stretch of Lent toward Easter, this Psalm is the promise of arrival: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days. We are not yet there, but the Shepherd is already leading us.
✠ Verse Before the Gospel — Ezechiel 33:11
I live, saith the Lord God: I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live.
✠ The Holy Gospel — John 8:1–11
The Lord be with you. — And with your spirit.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
¹ And Jesus went unto mount Olivet. ² And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him, and sitting down he taught them. ³ And the scribes and Pharisees bring unto him a woman taken in adultery: and they set her in the midst, ⁴ And said to him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery. ⁵ Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest thou? ⁶ And this they said tempting him, that they might accuse him. But Jesus bowing himself down, wrote with his finger on the ground. ⁷ When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. ⁸ And again stooping down, he wrote on the ground. ⁹ But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. ¹⁰ Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee? ¹¹ Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ.
Commentary
Susanna's cry was I have done none of these things — the cry of the innocent. The woman before Christ cannot say that; she was taken in the very act. Yet He writes in the dust and says neither will I condemn thee. Saint Augustine meditates on this scene with characteristic precision: "Two were left alone: misery and mercy" (In Evangelium Johannis, Tractatus XXXIII). The crowd departs beginning with the eldest — those with the longest catalogue of sin — until Christ stands alone with the woman. He does not deny the Law; He fulfils it by a greater mercy, and He does not leave her in her sin: go, and now sin no more. The Verse Before the Gospel from Ezechiel is the interpretive key: God desires not the death of the wicked but their conversion. Both Susanna and the adulteress are set free by the same divine intervention — one from false condemnation, one from just condemnation — because the same God governs both courts. In Lent, we stand before Him as the woman stands, unable to cast a stone at ourselves and unable to evade the truth, waiting for the words: neither will I condemn thee.
✠ Closing Prayer
O Lord God, who heardest the voice of Susanna in her innocence and raisedst up Thy servant Daniel to speak truth against the lie: hear us also when false accusation and temptation press us on every side. Give us her courage — to choose death before sin, to cry out to Thee above all human threats. And when we stand before Thee not as the innocent but as the guilty, speak to us as Thou didst to the woman taken in sin: neither will I condemn thee. Let Thy mercy be our sentence and Thy grace our release. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be...
✠ Laus Deo semper — Praise be to God always ✠
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