Daily Readings - Wed Nov 26 2025
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
The readings today remind us of the importance of humility and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading from Daniel, we see King Belshazzar’s arrogance as he desecrates the sacred vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem, praising false idols instead of the one true God. This act of defiance leads to a dramatic and supernatural intervention: the mysterious handwriting on the wall, which only Daniel can interpret. The message is clear: Belshazzar’s kingdom will fall because he has forgotten the God who gave him life and power. Daniel’s courage in speaking the truth, even in the face of a king’s anger, shows us the importance of standing firm in our faith, even when it is uncomfortable or risky.
In the Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face. He warns them that they will be persecuted, betrayed, and hated because of His name. Yet, in the midst of these trials, Jesus assures them that He will give them the words to speak and the wisdom to endure. He reminds them that not a hair on their head will perish, and that by their patience, they will possess their souls. This is not a promise of comfort or ease, but a call to trust in God’s plan and to remain faithful even in the face of suffering.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Do we, like Belshazzar, sometimes forget the source of our blessings and take credit for what belongs to God? Or are we willing to humbly acknowledge His sovereignty over all things? When we face challenges or persecution, do we trust in God’s providence, or do we rely on our own strength? The moral lesson is clear: true wisdom comes from recognizing God’s presence in our lives and trusting in His plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. Let us strive to live with humility and courage, knowing that God is always with us, guiding us through every trial.