First Reading

Reading from the prophecy of Daniel

Daniel 13, 41-62

At that time, the assembly believed the elders who had slandered Susanna and condemned her to death. Then Susanna, crying out loudly, exclaimed: “Eternal God, who know secrets and know everything before it happens, you know that these men have raised false testimony against me. And I am going to die without having done anything of what their wickedness has plotted against me.” The Lord heard her voice. As they were taking Susanna to the place of execution, the Lord stirred in a young man named Daniel a holy impulse to shout: “I am not responsible for the blood of this woman.”

The whole people turned to look at him and asked: “What are you saying?” Then Daniel, standing in their midst, replied: “Israelites, how can you be so blind? You have condemned a daughter of Israel to death without investigating and clarifying the truth. Return to the court, because those men have raised false testimony against her.”

The whole people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel: “Come sit in our midst and tell us what you think, since God himself has given you the maturity of an elder.” Daniel then said to them: “Separate the accusers, far from each other, and I will interrogate them.”

Once separated, Daniel called one of them and said to him: “Old in years and in crimes, now your previous sins are going to be uncovered, when you unjustly condemned the innocent and acquitted the guilty, against the Lord’s commandment: You shall not kill the just and innocent. Now, if it is true that you saw them, tell me under which tree they were together.” He replied: “Under an acacia.” Daniel said to him: “Very well. Your lie will cost you your life, for the angel has already received from God your sentence and will cut you in half.” Daniel told them to take him away, had the other brought in, and said to him: “Offspring of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty seduced you and passion perverted your heart. You did the same with the women of Israel, and they, out of fear, yielded to you. But a woman of Judah could not endure your wickedness. Now tell me, under which tree did you catch them embracing?” He answered: “Under an oak.” Daniel replied: “Your lie will also cost you your life. The angel of the Lord is already waiting with the sword in hand to cut you in half. Thus it will end with you.”

Then the whole assembly raised their voice and blessed God, who saves those who hope in him. They rose up against the two elders, whom Daniel had convicted of false testimony with their own words, and inflicted on them the punishment they had plotted against their neighbor. To fulfill the law of Moses, they killed them, and that day an innocent life was saved.

Gospel

Reading from the holy gospel according to Saint John

John 8, 1-11

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the Mount of Olives, and at dawn he appeared again in the temple, where the crowd approached him; and he, sitting among them, taught them.

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought him a woman caught in adultery, and placing her before him, they said: “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Moses commands us in the law to stone such women. What do you say?”

They asked him this to trap him and accuse him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. As they persisted in their question, he straightened up and said to them: “Let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone at her.” He bent down again and continued writing on the ground.

At those words, the accusers began to slip away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

Then Jesus straightened up and said to her: “Woman, where are those who accused you? Has no one condemned you?” She replied: “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her: “Nor do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.”