April 4.  Susanna.  Have you condemned her without learning the facts?  Beauty, like any typical teenager, enjoyed the story from the book of Daniel of Susanna and the randy, lascivious, lying judges.  This beautiful woman was quite innocently bathing in her husband’s roof-top garden when the two old men tried to seduce her and when she refused they falsely accused her. The people turned against her until Daniel,  just a committed young man, was inspired by God to intervene and was able to prove them guilty instead.  Even the boys were fascinated by the story and the family discussed how this type of situation is as old as the hills. “What is the answer to gender-based violence for our generation?  How often are people of standing in the community guilty of such abuse?”  However, this happens all the time at all levels of society, with boys and sometimes girls too being instigators. What really is the answer? “

Reflect, share and act. Scripture: The Lord God aroused the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel, and he cried with a loud voice, “I am innocent of the blood of this woman.  Are you such fools? Have you condemned a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts?” From Daniel 13. Pope Francis:  Even though significant advances have been made in the recognition of women’s rights in some countries much remains to be done to promote these rights.  History is burdened by the excesses of patriarchal cultures that considered women inferior.  AL 54.  MRM Positive Values 5. We dedicate ourselves to upholding honesty, integrity and loyalty as key social values to be upheld in good governance.  Choose an act of love and sacrifice from the list, published at www.marfam.org.za/lent