20260323 EROSION OF MORAL AUTHORITY
23 March 2026, Monday, 5th Week of Lent
First reading |
Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 |
Susanna 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 | 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.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.
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.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.
You have prepared a banquet for me
in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
my cup is overflowing.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.
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.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would I fear.
Gospel Acclamation | 2Co6:2 |
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Now is the favourable time:
this is the day of salvation.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Or: | Ezk33:11 |
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
I take pleasure, not in the death of a wicked man
– it is the Lord who speaks –
but in the turning back of a wicked man
who changes his ways to win life.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
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.’
EROSION OF MORAL AUTHORITY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [DN 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 (or 41-62); JN 8:1-11]
The story of Susanna evokes many thoughts and stirs our sentiments as well. It is a story reflective of everyday life–the challenges and injustices that vulnerable and innocent people suffer because of the abuse of authority. Indeed, Susanna was placed in a dilemma: either to succumb to the demands of her lechers or to be falsely accused of committing adultery. In spite of feeling trapped, it took a woman not just of courage but also of faith to say to her seducers, “But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.” She chose the Lord rather than sin against Him and her husband. Such was the moral integrity of Susanna.
This case of Susanna of course cannot but make us think of the many sexual abuses caused by priests and religious, and then covered up by those in higher authority. This betrayal of trust has been the greatest scourge of the Catholic Church in this millennium. Priests are called “Father” in the Catholic Community because they are called to be the Spiritual Father of the community. As such, their task is to educate, to form, to nurture and to protect the people under their charge. To manipulate and make use of them whether for their sexual satisfaction or even for their material and physical needs is to abuse their power. Consequently, such betrayal of trust and authority scandalise not just the entire Catholic community but also everyone regardless of faith and belief. If religious leaders supposedly have no credibility, what more for those who have no faith or belief at all? That is why today the world is facing a crisis of moral authority of leaders.
This was the case with the judges who abused their authority. Instead of protecting the innocent and the weak, they used their power and position for their own benefit, even to the extent of violating the integrity of persons. God’s indictment of the leaders of Israel was this: “Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to the people.” We who read the story of Susanna cannot help but feel indignant at what the judges did. They were supposed to be people of reputation. They were highly respected and commanded the trust and confidence of the people. However, they used their authority to satisfy their lust for Susanna. When their overture was rejected, they took revenge by turning the tables against her, accusing her of committing adultery.
This abuse of power is not confined to lust and sex. It is present in other forms as well. In the case of the adulterous woman in the Gospel, she was indeed guilty. She was brought before the Lord not so much because she had committed adultery and deserved condemnation, but because she was a pawn in the hands of the Jewish leaders, who sought to use her to find fault with Jesus. Their motive in bringing the woman to the Lord was not concern for justice or for her repentance. Rather, they wanted to test Him so that they could find something to use against Him. They sought to place the Lord in a dilemma, just as Susanna was. If Jesus were to say that she should not be stoned to death for her crime, He would be accused of going against the Law of Moses and thus be discredited as a rabbi. If He were to agree, then He would be seen as lacking mercy and compassion.
Why is the abuse of power and authority such a grievous crime? It is because such crimes are hard to investigate and prosecute. Those who commit them have power, money, and influence. Moreover, people tend to believe those who hold authority. They can easily cover up their crimes. They can buy people over to support them. They can engage the best lawyers to defend them. We see this in the political, corporate, and even religious worlds. The poor and the ordinary, on the other hand, do not have such support to defend themselves.
As a result, the temptation to use power and authority to satisfy one’s own needs and selfish interests is very great. This is why the Devil seeks to tempt those in power. As it is said, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Those in power often feel that no one can harm them or expose their evil deeds. Most of the time, the temptation lies in the areas of sex, power, and money. These are the three most powerful temptations of the evil one. With power and money, a person can obtain sexual favours or even manipulate others into surrendering themselves. The reality is that the sin of lust is a powerful temptation that few can resist once exposed to it.
Indeed, while condemning the abuse of authority and power, we should also ask why such abuses happen at all, especially today. Notwithstanding the presence of checks and balances, such abuses are becoming more prevalent. Why are leaders losing their moral authority in the world today? I believe it is due to secularism and its corollaries–moral relativism, materialism, and individualism. If Susanna was able to resist the snare of her seducers, it was because she came from a God-fearing family: “She was God-fearing, because her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses.” She was more afraid of offending God than of men. And when she was unjustly condemned, she commended her life to the Lord: “Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now must I die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?” Thus, her upbringing and environment moulded her faith in God and her reverence for His laws.
Unfortunately, the root of all sin is the sin of impiety–the rejection of God as the supreme lawgiver. This is what St Paul wrote: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them” (Rom 1:18f). When we reject God, we supplant His place. Everything is then made in reference to us. We become the norm and judge of all things. “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done. They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless” (Rom 1:28-31).
Indeed, this is the sad reality of the world today. A world without God becomes a world where everyone claims to be his or her own god.In their ignorance of what is right and wrong, people fall into sin and soon become accustomed–even addicted–to a sinful way of life. As if that were not bad enough, the Devil further tempts them by promoting a selfish and sensual way of living. Sinners do not want to sin alone; they seek company so that they will not feel guilty, since others are doing the same. This is what the world is doing–normalising what is evil or wrong and presenting it as acceptable and good. Because of social media and advertising, it has even become politically incorrect to say that something is wrong or immoral. As a result, even political and religious leaders hesitate to speak out publicly against what they perceive to be wrong.
We lack leaders like Daniel, who was young yet courageous enough to challenge the judges for their lack of impartiality and unjust judgment. He had the courage to stand up against the so-called authorities of his time. Likewise, our Lord did not condemn the woman, although He certainly did not condone her sin. He recognised that the religious leaders were using her for their own purposes. It is not easy to be a leader today, because when we do what is right, we are often opposed and ridiculed. It can seem that if one cannot defeat them, it is easier to join them. That is what the world is doing–following the crowd, which has been misled by a few powerful, wealthy, and influential individuals who are driven more by self-interest than by the common good of society and humanity.
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
