Please read this passage before reading this homily.
The shorter version omits background material such as Susanna’s family and background, the explicit details of the two judges’ plan to sexually abuse Susana. It picks up the story from the decree condemning Susanna to death for a crime we know she did not commit.
The story takes place in Babylon. The author observes that the women of Israel have different moral values from the women of Israel, much as we sometimes pit the moral attitudes of the East Coast versus the West Coast. The mastic tree and the oak tree allow the author to use them as wordplay, puns, for the punishment each judge receives. The cleverness of the young Daniel overcomes the supposed wisdom of the older people.
The god-fearing woman is spared in the story from Daniel. A story like the one in Daniel is told in John’s gospel (John 8:1-11) in which a “sinful woman” is absolved of sin and restored to respectability. In both stories the mercy of God is made manifest.
We tell stories like these to encourage the hearers to continue trusting in God, to continue their struggles against sin, selfishness and greed so as to turn to God in conversion of heart. Let us be encouraged, for God is faithful and trustworthy.