Daily Readings - Mon Nov 22 2021
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 powerful lessons on faith, integrity, and generosity. The first reading from Daniel recounts the story of Daniel and his companions in Babylon, who, despite being in exile, remained faithful to their God. They refused the king's food and wine, choosing instead a simpler diet of vegetables and water. This act of faith not only preserved their identity but also brought them wisdom and favor in the eyes of God and the king. Their trust in God’s providence led to their success in the royal court, demonstrating that true strength comes from staying true to one’s beliefs even in challenging circumstances.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a contrasting scene in the Temple, where Jesus observes the wealthy giving large sums to the treasury and a poor widow offering just two small coins. Jesus highlights the widow’s offering as the greatest, not because of its monetary value, but because it represented her entire livelihood. This act of selfless giving reflects her deep trust in God’s care, much like Daniel’s trust in refusing the king’s provisions. Both stories remind us that our relationship with God is not measured by external appearances or material wealth but by the depth of our faith and the sincerity of our actions.
As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to examine our own lives. How do we respond to challenges? Do we trust in God’s plan, even when it requires sacrifice? How do we use the resources we have? The widow’s two coins teach us that true generosity is not about how much we give but about the love and trust with which we give. Let us strive to live with integrity, trusting in God’s providence, and offering ourselves fully to Him, just as Daniel and the widow did. In doing so, we may find that our small acts of faith and generosity can have a profound impact in God’s eyes.