Monday, March 10, 2008
From AscensionNYC
Monday in the Fifth Week of Lent
by Patricia Smith
Psalm 23
Susanna 1: 9, 15-29, 34-62
John 8: 1-11
Two women (from different sides of the tracks?), each saved by a young man who is not a relative. Susanna is beautiful and from a righteous family. She is the wife of a wealthy man and privileged enough to have a cool garden in which to bathe on a hot day. St. John tells us nothing of the previous life of the adulteress who, when dragged into the temple, does not deny the charge against her. Susanna does deny the charge by directly praying to God to recognize her innocence.
At that time, in that place, it wouldn't have made any difference what either woman said. The sole word of a woman herself was not recognized in court; it was required that a male relative speak for her. The stakes were very high for these women because both would be stoned to death as prescribed by Mosaic Law. Susanna and the nameless woman had something else in common: neither one of them was represented by a male relative.
But the Lord indeed was their Shepherd. Because of Susanna's faith, Daniel, a stranger, is moved by God to prove the corruption of the witnesses and reverse the decision of the judges. The adulteress is saved by God acting through a stranger, Jesus, again calling into question the integrity of the court. In the first instance Mosaic Law is fulfilled with the conviction of the false witnesses. In the book of St. John the law is overturned by God's mercy via the salvation offered through the Christ.
The severity of Mosaic Law has been tempered over the centuries in Christian and Jewish lands, but the same cannot be said for countries enshrining Sharia Law as the final arbiter. Women accused of adultery are still being stoned to death in some places, the testimony of a woman is not given equal weight to that of a man, and honor killings are occurring even in countries that do not recognize Sharia.
The lives of both Susanna and the adulteress were changed forever. There is no doubt in my mind (and it is only through my faith that I can say this) that the unnamed adulteress went and sinned no more after her salvation by the Christ. I wonder though, about Susanna. Why didn't her husband speak for her in her hour of need? Women shouldn't need Daniels to come to their rescue. We still have a long way to go, baby.
Psalm 23
Susanna 1: 9, 15-29, 34-62
John 8: 1-11
Two women (from different sides of the tracks?), each saved by a young man who is not a relative. Susanna is beautiful and from a righteous family. She is the wife of a wealthy man and privileged enough to have a cool garden in which to bathe on a hot day. St. John tells us nothing of the previous life of the adulteress who, when dragged into the temple, does not deny the charge against her. Susanna does deny the charge by directly praying to God to recognize her innocence.
At that time, in that place, it wouldn't have made any difference what either woman said. The sole word of a woman herself was not recognized in court; it was required that a male relative speak for her. The stakes were very high for these women because both would be stoned to death as prescribed by Mosaic Law. Susanna and the nameless woman had something else in common: neither one of them was represented by a male relative.
But the Lord indeed was their Shepherd. Because of Susanna's faith, Daniel, a stranger, is moved by God to prove the corruption of the witnesses and reverse the decision of the judges. The adulteress is saved by God acting through a stranger, Jesus, again calling into question the integrity of the court. In the first instance Mosaic Law is fulfilled with the conviction of the false witnesses. In the book of St. John the law is overturned by God's mercy via the salvation offered through the Christ.
The severity of Mosaic Law has been tempered over the centuries in Christian and Jewish lands, but the same cannot be said for countries enshrining Sharia Law as the final arbiter. Women accused of adultery are still being stoned to death in some places, the testimony of a woman is not given equal weight to that of a man, and honor killings are occurring even in countries that do not recognize Sharia.
The lives of both Susanna and the adulteress were changed forever. There is no doubt in my mind (and it is only through my faith that I can say this) that the unnamed adulteress went and sinned no more after her salvation by the Christ. I wonder though, about Susanna. Why didn't her husband speak for her in her hour of need? Women shouldn't need Daniels to come to their rescue. We still have a long way to go, baby.
