Daily Readings - Wed Nov 29 2023
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.
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 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.