Pope Francis prays for all those who have been overcome by fear of the coronavirus pandemic
"Let us pray for the many people who are failing to cope and remain in fear because of the coronavirus pandemic. May the Lord help them to have the strength to cope for the good of society and the whole community," this was the intention of Pope Francis for the Mass he celebrated at Casa Santa Marta, he continued.
Pope Francis made a reflection on Psalm 23. He applied it to the two women presented in the readings of the fifth Monday of Lent: Susannah and the woman caught in adultery spoken of in today´s Gospel (Daniel 13; John 8:1-11).
Pope Francis began his homily by reciting the first half of Psalm 23, the Responsorial Psalm of the day:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Experience the presence of the Lord.
Both Susannah and the woman caught in adultery experienced the presence of the Lord in the dark valley. The innocent Susannah had been falsely accused, the other had committed a sin. Both had a death sentence hanging over their heads.
The Church Fathers saw a figure of the Church in these women: holy but with sinful children. Both women were desperate. Susannah trusted in the Lord.
Beware of falling into the hands of hypocrites and corrupt people.
The group of judges before Susannah and the doctors of the law mentioned in the Gospel, both groups had positions in the church. Those who condemned Susannah were corrupt; those who condemned the woman caught in adultery were hypocrites
One woman fell into the hands of the hypocrites, the other into the hands of the corrupt. There was no way out. Both women were in a valley of darkness... heading for death.
The first woman (Susannah), explicitly commended herself to the Lord, and the Lord intervened. The second (the adulterous woman) knows that she is guilty. She is ashamed in front of all the people... The Gospel does not say so, but surely she was praying within herself, asking for some kind of help.
God´s intervention.
Both men and women receive God´s intervention. The Lord justifies Susannah and forgives the adulterous woman.
He condemns the corrupt, helps the hypocrites to convert. He does not forgive the corrupt, simply because the corrupt are unable to ask for forgiveness... The corrupt are sure of themselves, they destroy and continue to exploit people... They put themselves in God´s place.
The Lord responds to women. He delivers Susannah from corrupt men... To the other he says, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more."
The lesson of God´s mercy.
In Susannah´s case, the people praised God. Those present with Jesus and the woman caught in adultery learn about God´s mercy. These are lessons we all need to learn because each of us has our own story, our own personal sins. If we do not recognize our own sins, then you are corrupt.
Let us look to the Lord, who does justice, but who is extremely merciful... May each of us, seeing how Jesus acted in these cases, entrust ourselves to God´s mercy and pray, trusting in God´s mercy, asking for forgiveness, because God "leads me on the right path". He is faithful to his name.
If I were to walk in the valley of darkness, the valley of sin, I would fear no evil. Thou art there with Thy rod and Thy staff; with these Thou givest me comfort.
Qriswell Quero, Venezuelan, faithful husband and father of a family. Electronic engineer and missionary of the faith. Committed to the proclamation of the Gospel. Solid believer that there are always new beginnings. Whoever has God has nothing to stop him.
