Daily Readings - Wed Nov 24 2021
Daniel
1Belshazzar, the king, made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and each one of them drank according to his age2And so, when they were drunk, he instructed that the vessels of gold and silver should be brought, which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had carried away from the temple, which was in Jerusalem, so that the king, and his nobles, and his wives, and the concubines, might drink from them3Then the gold and silver vessels were presented, which he had carried away from the temple and which had been in Jerusalem, and the king, and his nobles, wives, and concubines, drank from them4They drank wine, and they praised their gods of gold, and silver, brass, iron, and wood and stone5In the same hour, there appeared fingers, as of the hand of a man, writing on the surface of the wall, opposite the candlestick, in the king’s palace. And the king observed the part of the hand that wrote6Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts disturbed him, and he lost his self-control, and his knees knocked against one other13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke to him, saying, "Are you Daniel, of the sons of the captivity of Judah, whom my father the king led out of Judea14I have heard of you, that you have the spirit of the gods, and that greater knowledge, as well as understanding and wisdom, have been found in you16Furthermore, I have heard about you that you can interpret obscure things and solve difficulties. So then, if you succeed in reading the writing, and in revealing its interpretation, you will be clothed with purple, and you will have a chain of gold around your neck, and you will be the third leader in my kingdom.17To this Daniel responded by saying directly to the king, "Your rewards should be for yourself, and the gifts of your house you may give to another, but I will read to you the writing, O king, and I will reveal to you its interpretation23But you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been presented before you. And you, and your nobles, and your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. Likewise, you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, and brass, iron, and wood and stone, who neither see, nor hear, nor feel, yet you have not glorified the God who holds your breath and all your ways in his hand24Therefore, he has sent the part of the hand which has written this, which has been inscribed25But this is the writing that has been decreed: MANE, THECEL, PHARES26And this is the interpretation of the words. MANE: God has numbered your kingdom and has finished it27THECEL: you have been weighed on the scales and found lacking28PHARES: your kingdom has been divided and has been given to the Medes and the Persians
Luke
12But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogues and into custody, dragging you before kings and governors, because of my name13And this will be an opportunity for you to give testimony14Therefore, set this in your hearts: that you should not consider in advance how you might respond15For I will give to you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist or contradict16And you will be handed over by your parents, and brothers, and relatives, and friends. And they will bring about the death of some of you17And you will be hated by all because of my name18And yet, not a hair of your head will perish19By your patience, you shall possess your souls
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about humility, faith, and the ultimate triumph of God’s will. The first reading from Daniel recounts the story of King Belshazzar, who, in the midst of a lavish feast, desecrates the sacred vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem. His arrogance and defiance of God lead to a dramatic intervention: a mysterious hand writes a judgment on the wall, which Daniel interprets as the end of Belshazzar’s reign. This story reminds us that pride and disregard for the divine can lead to downfall, while humility and trust in God’s providence are essential virtues.
The Gospel reading from Luke complements this message, as Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face. He warns them of persecution and betrayal but assures them that they need not fear, for God will give them the words to speak in their hour of need. This passage invites us to reflect on our own trust in God’s providence, especially when we face trials or uncertainties. Like Daniel, we are called to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God’s wisdom and strength will guide us through even the most difficult circumstances.
Together, these readings challenge us to live with humility and courage. In a world often marked by arrogance and division, we are called to glorify God in all we do, trusting that His plan will prevail. Let us strive to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity, and to seek God’s wisdom in our daily lives. By doing so, we will not only find peace in the midst of turmoil but also bear witness to the transformative power of God’s love.