Daily Readings - Wed Nov 29 2023
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 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.