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Facing our Fear

April 7, 2025

Susanna 1-9, 15-29, 34-40, 41-62 | John 8:1-11 | Psalm 23

When I first read through today’s lessons I wondered why the 23rd Psalm was paired with them. Both the Old Testament and the Gospel deal with judgement, adultery and imminent death. Psalm 23, which most of us can likely recite by heart, is full of truly peaceful imagery. What on earth ties these together?

In Susanna, we hear about a beautiful and righteous woman who is sentenced to death after false accusations of adultery are made against her. Two respected elders have testified against her after she refused to lie with them, and the people believe them. Imagine how terrified and powerless she must have felt. But she calls out God, and He acts to save her.

The Lord heard her cry. Just as she was being led off to execution, God stirred up the holy spirit of a young lad named Daniel, and he shouted with a loud voice, “I want no part in shedding this woman”s blood!”

All the people turned to him and asked, “What is this you are saying?” Taking his stand among them he said, “Are you such fools, O Israelites, as to condemn a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts? Return to court, for these men have given false evidence against her.”

When Daniel questions the men individually their lies are apparent and Susanna is saved.

The Gospel also tells the story of a woman accused of adultery and facing death by stoning. The Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus. If he condemns the woman he sends her to her death, and if he forgives her he is breaking a law laid down by Moses. Jesus bends down and writes in the sand, but they continue.

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Both of these readings are about powerless women facing certain death. Jesus is facing his own judgement and death, too – he is well aware of why the Pharisees are laying this trap. But these are also about the hypocrisy of the accusers, God’s mercy and His love. God acts to save Susanna, and Jesus refuses to condemn a sinner. In this season of Lent we should all be considering our own sins and hypocrisy and vowing to do better. It can be frightening to consider all the ways we fall short, but God has shown us His love by sending His son to die for us.

And here is where the inclusion of Psalm 23 began to make sense to me. It’s such a profound and beautiful metaphor for God’s love as He shepherds us through life.

The Lord is my shepherd; *
     I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures *
     and leads me beside still waters.

He revives my soul *
     and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *
     for you are with me;
     your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
     you have anointed my head with oil,
     and my cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
     and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Take comfort in these words. For all our sins, and even at our lowest, saddest, most frightening moments, God is with us.

 Mallory Walsh