Daily Readings - Wed Nov 29 2017
First Reading - Daniel 5.1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
Daniel
1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.2Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.5In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.6Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.13Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?14I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.16And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.17Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.23But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:24Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.25And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.26This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.27TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.28PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Gospel - Luke 21.12-19
Luke
12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.13And it shall turn to you for a testimony.14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.18But there shall not an hair of your head perish.19In your patience possess ye your souls.
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.