Daily Readings - Wed Nov 29 2023
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 two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God’s judgment, trust in divine providence, and the call to remain faithful in the face of adversity. The first reading from Daniel recounts the story of King Belshazzar, who, in his arrogance, desecrates the sacred vessels of the Temple during a lavish feast. His defiance of God is met with a mysterious and terrifying sign: a hand writes a message on the wall, which Daniel interprets as a judgment against the king’s pride and disregard for the Lord. The second reading from Luke finds Jesus preparing His disciples for the trials they will face, reassuring them that even in the midst of persecution, God will give them the words to speak and the strength to endure.
The context of these readings is rooted in moments of crisis and judgment. Daniel’s story takes place during the final days of the Babylonian Empire, as God’s judgment falls on a king who has forgotten the source of his power. Luke’s passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He warns His followers about the challenges they will face as they bear witness to the Gospel. Both readings remind us that our actions have consequences and that God’s justice will ultimately prevail. They also emphasize the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even when the world around us seems to be crumbling.
These readings are deeply connected in their themes of judgment, faith, and perseverance. Just as Daniel stood firm in interpreting the writing on the wall, knowing it would cost him, so too are we called to stand firm in our faith, even when it leads to suffering. The Gospel reminds us that our endurance is not in vain; God will see us through, and our patience will ultimately lead to the triumph of the soul. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we, like Belshazzar, allow pride or complacency to cloud our vision of God’s presence in our lives? Or do we, like Daniel and the disciples, trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain?
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to examine our priorities and our relationship with God. Are we using the gifts and resources He has given us for His glory, or are we squandering them on fleeting pleasures? When we face challenges or persecution, do we turn to God for strength, or do we rely on our own limited resources? The moral lesson here is clear: true wisdom comes from acknowledging God’s sovereignty and trusting in His providence. Let us strive to live with humility, gratitude, and unwavering faith, knowing that God’s justice will prevail, and His love will sustain us through all trials.