Pope Francis, in his daily homily at Casa Santa Marta, spoke about God's intervention, despite our own mistakes. He spoke of two women who were condemned to death by the crowds. He said Susanna was falsely accused and the other justly accused of adultery. But, he said, their accusers were corrupt and hypocrites.
POPE FRANCIS
“Both women were in a valley of darkness…heading toward death. The first, explicitly entrusts herself to the Lord, and the Lord intervened. The second knows she’s guilty. She's ashamed in front of all the people. The Gospel doesn't say it, but surely she was praying inside, asking for some type of help.”
He explained each person must learn about God's mercy, which is relevant to every life, and not recognizing personal sin is a sign of corruption.
EXCERPTS OF PAPAL HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Media)
“The Fathers of the Church saw a figure of the Church in these women: holy but with sinful children. … Both women were desperate…. Susanna trusts in the Lord.
“One woman fell into the hands of hypocrites, the other into the hands of the corrupt. There was no way out…. Both women were in a valley of darkness…heading toward death. The first, explicitly entrusts herself to the Lord, and the Lord intervened. The second…knows she’s guilty. She's ashamed in front of all the people…. The Gospel doesn't say it, but surely she was praying inside, asking for some type of help.”
'He condemns the corrupt ones, He helps the hypocrites convert themselves. He does not forgive the corrupt ones, simply because the corrupt person is incapable of asking for forgiveness…. They are sure of themselves, they destroy, and continue to exploit people…. They put themselves in place of God.”
“The Lord responds to the women. He frees Susanna from the corrupt men... To the other He says, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.’ “
“Let’s look to the Lord, who does justice, but who is extremely merciful… May each one of us, seeing how Jesus acted in these cases, entrust ourselves to God's mercy and pray, trusting in God's mercy, asking forgiveness, because God ‘guides me along the right path. He is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness’ the valley of sin, ‘no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort.”
