Daily Readings - Mon Nov 22 2021
Daniel
1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god.3Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility,4youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.5The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.6Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah.8But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.9And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,10and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king."11Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12"Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.13Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see."14So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days.15At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king's food.16So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.17As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.18At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.19And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king.20And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.
Luke
1Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,2and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.3And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.4For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on faith, integrity, and generosity. The first reading from Daniel recounts the story of Daniel and his companions in Babylon, who, despite being in exile, remained faithful to their God. They refused the king's food and wine, choosing instead a simpler diet of vegetables and water. This act of faith not only preserved their identity but also brought them wisdom and favor in the eyes of God and the king. Their trust in God’s providence led to their success in the royal court, demonstrating that true strength comes from staying true to one’s beliefs even in challenging circumstances.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a contrasting scene in the Temple, where Jesus observes the wealthy giving large sums to the treasury and a poor widow offering just two small coins. Jesus highlights the widow’s offering as the greatest, not because of its monetary value, but because it represented her entire livelihood. This act of selfless giving reflects her deep trust in God’s care, much like Daniel’s trust in refusing the king’s provisions. Both stories remind us that our relationship with God is not measured by external appearances or material wealth but by the depth of our faith and the sincerity of our actions.
As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to examine our own lives. How do we respond to challenges? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when it requires sacrifice? How do we use the resources we have? The widow’s two coins teach us that true generosity is not about how much we give but about the love and trust with which we give. Let us strive to live with integrity, trusting in God’s providence, and offering ourselves fully to Him, just as Daniel and the widow did. In doing so, we may find that our small acts of faith and generosity can have a profound impact in God’s eyes.