Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s readings bring us face to face with the reality of injustice and the power of divine light. We meet Susanna in the first reading, a woman of integrity who is falsely accused by the very people who should have upheld justice. And in the Gospel, we hear Jesus proclaim, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Susanna’s story is one that speaks deeply to our human experience. She was not in the wrong. She did what was right. She stood for purity and for truth — yet the world around her turned against her. The men who accused her were powerful and respected, and their voices were louder than hers. It seemed like she had no chance. But what did she do? She lifted her heart to God. She didn’t defend herself with arguments or fight her way out. She turned to the One who sees all things, and trusted Him completely.
And God responded. He raised a young man, Daniel, who spoke with boldness and clarity. Through him, the truth came to light and Susanna was vindicated. This teaches us something powerful — that when we remain faithful, even when it seems like we’re alone, God sees. And when the time is right, He speaks. He defends. He restores.
Then, in the Gospel, Jesus gives us words we must hold on to: “I am the Light of the world.” He is the light that cuts through confusion, through darkness, through guilt and shame. He is the light that cannot be hidden and cannot be overcome. If we walk with Him, we are never really lost — even when life feels uncertain. The world may try to bury us in lies or mistakes, but the light of Christ always reveals the truth and leads us back to life.
Whether you feel misunderstood like Susanna, or broken like the woman in the earlier verses of John 8, the message today is clear — God has not forgotten you. He still lifts the innocent. He still forgives the guilty. And He still brings light into every dark place.
So don’t give up when things feel unfair. Don’t stop doing what’s right because others don’t see your heart. And don’t be afraid to step back into the light, even if you’ve made mistakes. Jesus is the Light of the world — and with Him, there is always hope, always mercy, always a way forward.
Amen.
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