The first reading of today’s Liturgy of the Word of the Mass–from the Book of the Prophet Daniel–introduces the characters of Susanna, and later of Daniel. Even in his youth, he exercises a sincere protection for the virtue of honesty, of seeing and judging with wisdom the elements of reality when they are held up to Truth. Blessed Susanna is saved by such wisdom, and those who shame it, walk in peril.
For so many of us, honesty is cherished only when it serves our desires and we can be often tempted to subvert it for our own interests (who of us can admit that we are not that dissimilar to the two elder judges?). Yet, if we consider how Our Lord served honesty and Truth, He proclaimed, “I am He, the One speaking with you”…to the detriment of his physical safety and the longevity of his human life. The honesty of the Lord allowed Him to judge things aright, and ultimately, to offer his life as a ransom for ours, in order to uphold what is truly Right and Good. In all honesty, then, we can see how every one of us really did need–and continues to need–the offering Christ gave of himself on Calvary.
One way we might honor the Lord’s Paschal Mystery, is to cherish honesty in our own day, to serve this supreme good, and walk the path that follows the Lord to eternal life.
