Daily Readings - Fri Dec 01 2017
Daniel
1In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.2Daniel said: "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea.3Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.4"The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.5"And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat your fill of flesh!'6"After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.7"After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast-terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.8"While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully.9"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.11"Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.12(The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)13"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Luke
29He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees.30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.32"I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are presented with vivid imagery from Daniel and a parable from Luke, both pointing us toward the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom. Daniel's vision, set during the Babylonian exile, describes four beasts symbolizing the rise and fall of earthly empires. The fourth beast, with its terrifying appearance, represents oppressive power, but it is ultimately destroyed. This vision culminates with the Ancient One, a symbol of God, judging the beasts and granting dominion to the son of man, a figure representing the Messiah and God's people. This vision reassures us that despite the turmoil of history, God's sovereignty will prevail.
In Luke, Jesus uses the parable of the fig tree to teach about recognizing the signs of the kingdom of God. Just as leaves signal the approach of summer, certain events will herald the nearness of God's kingdom. Jesus emphasizes the enduring nature of his words, which will outlast even heaven and earth. This parable invites us to stay vigilant and attentive to the signs around us, trusting in the fulfillment of God's promises.
Both readings converge on the theme of God's kingdom and our response to its signs. Daniel's vision calls us to trust in God's ultimate triumph over earthly powers, while Luke's parable encourages us to remain faithful and attentive, knowing that God's word endures. As we navigate our daily lives, let us stay rooted in faith, recognizing the signs of God's presence and trusting in the eternal nature of His word. May we remain vigilant and hopeful, awaiting the full realization of God's kingdom.