Daily Readings - Thu Nov 28 2019
Daniel
11Therefore, these men, inquiring diligently, discovered that Daniel was praying and making supplication to his God12And they approached and spoke to the king about the edict. "O king, did you not decree that every man who makes a request to any of the gods or men for thirty days, except to yourself, O king, would be cast into the den of lions?" To which the king replied, saying, "The sentence is true, and according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, it is not lawful to violate it.13Then they answered and said before the king, "Daniel, of the sons of the captivity of Judah, is not concerned about your law, nor about the decree that you have established, but three times a day he prays his supplication.14Now when the king had heard these words, he was greatly grieved, and, on behalf of Daniel, he set his heart to free him, and he labored even until sunset to rescue him15But these men, knowing the king, said to him, "You know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is that every decree which the king has established may not be altered.16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. And the king said to Daniel, "Your God, whom you always serve, he himself will free you.17And a stone was brought, and it was placed over the mouth of the den, which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, so that no one would act against Daniel18And the king departed into his house, and he went to bed without eating, and food was not set before him, moreover, even sleep fled from him19Then the king, getting himself up at first light, went quickly to the den of lions20And coming near to the den, he cried out with a tearful voice to Daniel and spoke to him. "Daniel, servant of the living God, your God, whom you serve always, do you believe he has prevailed to free you from the lions?21And Daniel, answering the king, said, "O king, live forever22My God has sent his angel, and he has closed the mouths of the lions, and they have not harmed me, because before him justice has been found in me, and, even before you, O king, I have committed no offense.23Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and he commanded that Daniel should be taken out of the den. And Daniel was taken out of the den, and no wound was found in him, because he believed in his God24Moreover, by order of the king, those men were brought who had accused Daniel, and they were cast into the lions’ den, they, and their sons, and their wives, and they did not reach the bottom of the den before the lions seized them and crushed all their bones25Then king Darius wrote to all peoples, tribes, and languages dwelling in all the land. "May peace be increased with you26It is hereby established by my decree that, in all my empire and my kingdom, they shall begin to tremble and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal God forever, and his kingdom will not be destroyed, and his power will last forever27He is the liberator and the savior, performing signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has freed Daniel from the lions’ den.28Thereafter, Daniel continued through the reign of Darius until the reign of Cyrus, the Persian
Luke
20Then, when you will have seen Jerusalem encircled by an army, know then that its desolation has drawn near21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and those who are in its midst withdraw, and those who are in the countryside not enter into it22For these are the days of retribution, so that all things may be fulfilled, which have been written23Then woe to those who are pregnant or nursing in those days. For there will be great distress upon the land and great wrath upon this people24And they will fall by the edge of the sword. And they will be led away as captives into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles, until the times of the nations are fulfilled25And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars. And there will be, on earth, distress among the Gentiles, out of confusion at the roaring of the sea and of the waves26men withering away out of fear and out of apprehension over the things that will overwhelm the whole world. For the powers of the heavens will be moved27And then they will see the Son of man coming on a cloud, with great power and majesty28But when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads and look around you, because your redemption draws near.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories of faith, perseverance, and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Daniel recounts the famous story of Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel, a faithful servant of God, refuses to stop praying to the one true God despite King Darius’s decree forbidding it. His unwavering commitment to his faith leads to his miraculous deliverance from the lions, as God sends an angel to protect him. The king, moved by this miracle, not only spares Daniel’s life but also issues a decree that the God of Daniel be revered throughout his kingdom. This story reminds us that even in the face of great adversity, trusting in God’s plan can lead to unexpected blessings and opportunities to witness to His power.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents a very different kind of challenge. Jesus speaks about the future destruction of Jerusalem and the chaos that will accompany the end times. He warns of great suffering, confusion, and fear, but He also offers hope. Jesus tells His disciples that when these trials begin, they should not lose heart but instead lift their heads in confidence, knowing that their redemption is near. This passage encourages us to remain vigilant and faithful, trusting that God’s ultimate plan for salvation will prevail even when the world around us seems to be falling apart.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to challenges in our own lives. Like Daniel, we may face situations where our faith is tested, and we must decide whether to compromise or stand firm. Like the disciples in Luke’s Gospel, we may encounter uncertainty and turmoil, but we are called to trust in God’s providence and remain steadfast. These stories remind us that faith is not about avoiding difficulties but about walking through them with confidence in God’s presence and plan. Let us strive to imitate Daniel’s courage and the disciples’ hope, knowing that no matter what we face, God is always with us, guiding us toward redemption and eternal life.