Human and demonic malice can only go so far

This is what we can gather from the story of the beautiful Susannah who was the object of lust by two elderly men and who was falsely accused of wrongdoing because she refused to accede to their evil request. (cfr. Daniel 13,41c-62)

- Fr. Roy Cimagala [e-mail]

These two elders occupied high positions in the community, being appointed judges. This fact somehow reminds us that our capacity to do evil does not depend on how young or how old we are.

We are capable of doing evil at any age--with the exception perhaps of the innocent children and those with certain disabilities. And the good things --wealth, talents, prestige, power, etcetera-- that we enjoy can be used to pursue an evil plan. In fact, the better endowed we are, the greater and graver malice we can commit.

That is why we should be most careful with whatever human and God-given gifts we may have. They should only be used and enjoyed with God always and with the good of others in mind. Using and enjoying them simply for ourselves can only mean disaster for us, sooner or later, one way or another.