Daily Readings - Mon Nov 24 2025
Daniel
1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.2And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.3And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;4Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.5And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.6Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.9Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.10And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.11Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,12Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.13Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.14So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.15And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.16Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Luke
1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful stories of faith, integrity, and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Daniel tells the story of Daniel and his companions, who, despite being exiles in a foreign land, remained faithful to their God. Refusing to compromise their beliefs by eating the king’s food and drink, they trusted that God would provide for them. Their faith was rewarded with wisdom, understanding, and favor in the eyes of the king. The Gospel, on the other hand, presents us with the humble widow who, despite her poverty, gave all she had to live on as an offering to God. Jesus highlights her generosity, teaching us that true giving comes not from abundance but from sacrifice.
Both readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about external appearances or material wealth but about the depth of our faith and the sincerity of our actions. Daniel and the widow both acted out of trust in God, even when the circumstances seemed daunting. Daniel could have easily conformed to the king’s expectations to gain favor, but he chose integrity over comfort. The widow could have kept her meager coins for survival, but she chose to give everything to God, trusting that He would provide. Their examples challenge us to examine our own lives: Are we willing to stand firm in our faith, even when it’s difficult? Are we generous with what we have, trusting that God will multiply our efforts?
These readings call us to live with courage and generosity. Like Daniel, we may face pressures to conform to the world around us, but we are invited to remain steadfast in our values and trust in God’s plan. Like the widow, we are called to give freely, not out of what we have extra, but out of our very lives. True faith is not about what we say but about how we live. Let us ask ourselves: Where am I being called to trust God more deeply? How can I live with greater integrity and generosity today? May we, like Daniel and the widow, be examples of faith and trust in a world that often values power and wealth over humility and sacrifice.