Today’s Roman Lectionary offers a stark contrast to yesterday’s cycle C gospel. On Sunday, a woman is accused of a crime she did commit. Today, another woman is accused, but she is innocent. Daniel the prophet to the rescue in an ancient episode of Law & Order: Old Testament.
I have a musical sketched out:
ACT ONE
Overture band
When You Find A Worthy Wife (Pr 31:10-31) women’s schola
Many Are The Women Joakim
Sitting With The Elders men’s schola (elders)
The Two Ways (Ps 1) Joakim & elders
Wickedness Out of Babylon women’s schola
In The Garden band
Time For Lunch two elders
Shut The Garden Doors Susanna & two maids
Our Desire two elders
Trapped Susanna
Accusations two elders
Like Lions (Ps 17:8-15) Susanna
ACT TWO
A Worthy Wife (reprise) band
Send for Susanna (Sir 26:7-11) two elders
Testimony two elders
You, My Other Self (Ps 55:13-15) Joakim
Condemnation town elders
O Eternal God Susanna
Return To Court Daniel
Come Inform Us two elders
If You Were A Witness Daniel & two elders
Perjury
Sing to the Lord (Ps 9) all
I remember this story from before my baptism, in 6th grade. It wasn’t in my mother’s Protestant Bible at home. I needed to refer to my new Catholic RSV to find it.
Of course, Ruth has gotten bogged down amidst the concerns of our church fire and other life adventures. So Ruth, only one-fourth complete, is the priority. But Susanna next. But the book for this musical has a good start. I still haven’t solved the problem of Susanna’s reconciliation with a husband and family so quick to jump on the wicked elders’ bandwagon. That just doesn’t ring true for a modern audience. It will need some finesse.
