Daily Readings - Mon Nov 25 2019
Daniel
1In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.2And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility-4young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.5The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.6Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.8But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.9Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,10but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,12"Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.13Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see."14So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.18At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.19The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king's service.20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
Luke
1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful stories that invite us to reflect on faith, integrity, and generosity. The first reading from Daniel recounts the story of Daniel and his companions in Babylonian captivity. Despite being in a foreign land and pressured to conform to the king's ways, Daniel and his friends remain faithful to their God. They refuse to eat the king's food, which they consider unclean, and instead choose a simple diet of vegetables and water. Their trust in God is rewarded as they become healthier and wiser than their peers, demonstrating that fidelity to God, even in challenging circumstances, leads to blessings.
The Gospel reading from Luke presents the story of the widow's mite. Jesus observes people giving offerings at the temple and notices a poor widow who puts in two small coins. While others give from their surplus, the widow gives all she has to live on. Jesus praises her, saying she has given more than anyone else because her offering comes from a place of deep trust and sacrifice. This teaches us that true generosity is not measured by the amount given but by the love and trust behind the gift.
Both readings highlight the importance of living with integrity and faith. Daniel and the widow show us that trusting God and being faithful in all circumstances, even when it is difficult, leads to a deeper relationship with Him. Their examples encourage us to examine our own lives: Are we willing to stand firm in our faith like Daniel? Do we give to God with the same generosity and trust as the widow? May we learn to trust in God's providence and to give from the heart, knowing that He sees and rewards our faithfulness.