Daily Readings - Wed Nov 29 2017
Daniel
1King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.2Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.3Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.4They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.5Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.6Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.14I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.16But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.23but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.24"Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.25And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.26This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;27TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;28PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
Luke
12But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.13This will be your opportunity to bear witness.14Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.16You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.17You will be hated by all for my name's sake.18But not a hair of your head will perish.19By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about pride, humility, and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Daniel recounts the story of Belshazzar, the king who defiantly used sacred vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem to toast his gods during a lavish feast. His arrogance was met with a mysterious and terrifying sign: a hand writing a message of judgment on the wall. Daniel, the prophet, interpreted the writing, declaring the end of Belshazzar’s reign. This story reminds us that pride and disregard for the divine can lead to downfall, while humility and faith in God’s wisdom bring true understanding and grace.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to the challenges of discipleship. Jesus warns His followers that they will face persecution, betrayal, and even death because of His name. Yet, in the midst of such trials, He assures them that He will give them the words and wisdom to testify to the truth. This passage invites us to reflect on our own willingness to stand firm in faith, even when the world opposes us. Like Daniel, who trusted God’s plan despite the dangers, we are called to remain steadfast, knowing that our perseverance will ultimately lead to the triumph of God’s will.
Both readings encourage us to trust in God’s providence and to live with courage and integrity. In a world often marked by pride and division, we are called to be humble, to seek wisdom, and to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity. May we, like Daniel, interpret the signs of our times with hearts open to God’s truth, and may we, like the disciples, bear witness to the power of His name with patience and hope.