Florida Council of Catholic Women/Province of Miami at P. O. Box 1811, Labelle, FL 33975 US - SUSANNA

Susanna, a beautiful young girl, was married to Joakim, a rich and respected man. Their home in Babylon was surrounded by spacious gardens and was often visited by Jewish elders who had been appointed judges. When two of the judges upon seeing Susanna in the garden, tried to seduce her, she resisted their efforts and cried, "I am completely trapped. If I yield it will be my death; if I refuse I cannot escape your power yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before God." The servants heard her cries and rushed to the garden only to hear the judges accuse her of adultery. Because they were judges, their words were accepted without question and Susana was condemned to death. As Susanna was being led to her death a young man named Daniel cried out, "I will have no part in the death of this woman. Are you such fools to condemn a woman of Israel without examination and clear evidence ?" Daniel questioned each judge separately concerning the tree they had seen her under. Their answers proved their guilt. One replied the mastic, the other the mighty oak. The contrast between the mastic tree, which is small, and the mighty oak draws attention to the contradictions in their statements. Susanna's complete trust in God is an inspiring lesson for us. She was willing to suffer anything rather than sin. Reflections: Are we quick to judge and find fault? Have we ever falsely accused someone with little effort to discover the truth? Do we go along with the crowd because "everyone says so?" Is our trust in God strong enough to resist the easy road? Prayer: 0 Lord, give me the courage to resist listening to gossip and rumors. Let me remember that what I say should pass through three doors. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?

(Back)