Susanna

This blog entry doesn’t fall into the categories that I have used thus far:
personal journaling, spiritual practices, seasonal meditations etc.
Perhaps I need to create a new category called
commentary on current events
or
a brief sermon
although neither were within my intention when starting to blog.

The text that has been on my mind as I have heard
Dr. Christina Blasey Ford and her elders in the court
is the story of
Susanna
which can be found within the versions of The Bible that contain
The Apocrypha.
Susanna may be located as a Book unto herself
or
as a 13th chapter addition to Daniel.

I first encountered Susanna about 30 years ago
when I was being trained as a sexual harassment/abuse consultant
for my denomination
and I recall the impact of hearing this scriptural story which was then
completely unknown to me.
I remember thinking:
a scene from womens’ lives today yet written so long ago…
Wow!

To summarize:
Susanna is described as devout and beautiful.
She was a Hebrew woman married to Joakim.
Joakim was rich and had a garden beside his house.
Susanna liked to walk in this garden.
Because of Joakim’s position in their community
elders-judges frequented his home.
Two of these elders-judges had noticed Susanna and
they began to lust for her.
This went on and on in their minds-eyes until one day
these two elders-judges followed her into the garden and
watched
as Susanna began to bathe.

The two elders-judges then ran to her and told her
that if she did not ‘lie with us’ they would testify that
they had caught her with a young man.
Susanna immediately realized that she was trapped.
If these elders-judges told Joakim that she was with a young man
she would face death according to custom and law
and if she obliged these elders-judges
she would be sexually violated.

The elders-judges did not get their way with Susanna

and so

they accused her as they said they would
and a court situation ensued.
The assembly believed these elders-judges and
Susanna was sentenced to death.
She had pleaded her innocence and she had called upon God.
As she was being led off for execution
God stirred Daniel to go into this situation.

Daniel was able to expose the two elders-judges as liars and
they were sentenced.

For this, it is recorded that Daniel gained a good reputation.

*** ***** *

I’m not sure if Susanna’s story ended well or not.

Susanna’s physical life was saved
yet
she has lived on through history with art and commentaries depicting her as
a seductress.

God, the Holy One, knew Susanna’s truth and heard her cry
yet
humans have continued to debate her innocence.

Susanna’s story was told and recorded
yet
hidden away
not to be part of the common lectionary, therefore
seldom read or preached.

Susanna stood firm.
She took a brave stance of personal-faith integrity
yet
Daniel became the heroic figure.

*** ***** *
I am writing this so that Susanna’s story
can be known by a few more people
and I’m writing her story
because
my heart hurts
to think of all the women who have been
in a similar place of
judgement
and
torment
and
shaming.

I also want to give thanks for 
the courage of Susanna
and for
 the courage of Dr Christina Ford
who have stood to speak their truth
and are
the heroes
of

Herstory.

*** ***** *