Daily Readings - Sat Dec 02 2017
Daniel
15"I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.16I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this. "So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:17'The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.18But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever-yes, for ever and ever.'19"Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws-the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.20I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell-the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them,22until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.23"He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.24The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.25He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.26"'But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.27Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.'
Luke
34"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom and the call to remain vigilant in our faith. In the first reading from Daniel, we encounter a vision of four great beasts, symbolizing four kingdoms that will rise and fall. Despite the terror and chaos these kingdoms bring, Daniel is assured that the saints of the Most High will ultimately receive the kingdom, and it will last forever. This vision reminds us that earthly powers, no matter how formidable, are transient, while God’s reign is eternal. The fourth beast, with its ten horns and its blasphemous arrogance, represents the ultimate earthly power that persecutes the holy ones. Yet, even this will come to an end, and the kingdom will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus’ warning to his disciples about the dangers of being weighed down by the cares and pleasures of this life. He urges them to be vigilant and prayerful so that they may stand before the Son of Man when he comes. This passage serves as a reminder that our ultimate hope is not in the things of this world but in the eternal kingdom of God. Jesus’ words are a call to live with our hearts fixed on heaven, avoiding the distractions and temptations that can lead us away from God.
These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on trust in God’s providence and the importance of spiritual vigilance. Daniel’s vision assures us that even in the face of great trials and persecutions, God’s plan will prevail, and his people will inherit the kingdom. Luke’s Gospel, on the other hand, challenges us to live in a way that reflects this hope, remaining alert and prayerful as we await the Lord’s return. Together, they remind us that our true citizenship is in heaven, and we must not allow the fleeting attractions of this world to distract us from our ultimate goal. Let us, therefore, trust in God’s promise, stay vigilant in our faith, and live in a way that reflects our hope in the eternal kingdom.