March 18, 2004, Monday of the 5th week of Lent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Daniel.

In Babylon there lived a man named Joachim, who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman,

Susanna, the daughter of Hilkaya.

Her pious parents had trained their daughter according to the law of Moses.

Joachim was very rich. He had a guard near his house, and the Jews had recourse to him often

because he was the most respected of them all. That year, two elders of the people were appointed

judges, of whom the Lord said,

Wickedness has come out of Babylon, from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.

These men, to whom all brought their cases, frequented the House of Joachim.

When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.

When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk, they began to lust for her.

They suppressed their consciences.

They would not allow their eyes to look to heaven, and did not keep in mind just judgments. One day, while they were waiting for the

right moment, she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only. She decided to bathe for the

weather was warm. Nobody else was there except the two elders, who had hidden themselves and were

watching her. Bring me oil and soap, she said to the maids, who had hidden themselves and were watching her.

Bring the oil and soap, she said to the maids, and shut the garden doors while I bathe.

As soon as the maids had left, the two old men got up and hurried to her.

Look, they said, the garden doors are shut and no one can see us. Give in to our desire and lie with us.

If you refuse, we will testify against you that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.

I am completely trapped, Susanna groaned. If I yield, it will be my death. If I refuse, I cannot escape your power. Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord. Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also

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