Two women in the pages of our daily readings today. Both so close to death, crying out for justice, or simply just crying out of fear.
Both stand accused by men with stones in their hands, ready to crush their skulls for sins of the flesh.
One woman is innocent, the other guilty. But both are saved from unjust punishment and condemnation by a merciful God.
Their stories from the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament and the Gospel of John in the New Testament hold many lessons. They are reminders to us today that we should not be so quick to judge others. We should never be quick to condemn the accused for crimes they may not have committed. And when we stand accused, we should not lose hope in our Lord’s promise of justice.
Our Lord is kind and merciful … even if it seems to take forever before He acts.
Imagine how frustrated Susanna must have felt. Her only crime was being beautiful and catching the lustful eyes of two of the most powerful men in the community – whose words were like “gospel” to others. Their status in the community meant that few people ever questioned their word.
Taken by Susanna’s physical beauty and a chance opportunity to confront her while she was bathing alone, these two plotted to force themselves on to her. If she refused, they would make up a story and accuse her of sleeping with another man.
Susanna had a quick decision to make. Let these evil men have their way or let them accuse her publicly of something she did not do. Either way, she was looking at a quick judgment and death … for something she did not do.
She chose to place her faith in God. He would hear her prayers and figure out a way. So, she screamed.
The woman in the New Testament (we don’t know her name) may also have been screaming as she was tossed to the ground in front of Jesus. Unlike Susanna, this woman was guilty of prostitution. The men of the community were both judges and executioners, but plotted to put Jesus to the test.
In this story, it is Jesus who had the choice – intercede for the woman and defy the laws of Moses or do nothing and by allowing an execution, defy the laws of the Romans.
And then our Lord extends his finger.
It’s interesting … so many people over the years have wondered what Jesus “wrote” in the dirt that day just before he saved the woman from her brutal death.
I wonder if instead of “writing” he was “pointing an accusing finger” … not at the woman, not at the mob, not at the Romans, but at the earth.
Perhaps we all stand accused of the infidelities, the false accusations, the judging, the executions and the unjust treatment in general of our brothers and sisters.
With his finger placed firmly in the dirt, we are awakened to what he is about to say.
Poke, poke, poke … pay attention to what is about to happen, right?
Jesus speaks the words:
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Jesus then refuses to condemn the girl Himself. Instead he shows mercy and forgives, sending her away to “sin no more.”
Our savior worked things out differently in the Old Testament. In our first reading, Jesus points toward a young prophet, Daniel, and inspires him to intercede on behalf of the condemned Susanna, who is ultimately found to be innocent.
God instills in all of us to not only be just but to seek justice for others.
Susanna is free to resume her life of innocence. Her two accusers would not be so lucky.
Two women … connected across the pages of history by their struggles against a cruel and unjust world.
One savior … showing mercy and providing justice for both.
Justice does not always come when or how we’d like to see it. Sometimes we don’t see it at all. But the lesson today is that justice will prevail.
Today, let us pray that whether we are accuser or accused, we remain grounded in truth and never give up hope in a fair and just God.
