Daily Readings - Wed Nov 24 2021
Daniel
1King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.2While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.3So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.4As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.5Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote.6His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.13So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.16Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."17Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.23Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.24Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.25"This is the inscription that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin26"This is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.27Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.28Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
Luke
12"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.13This will result in your being witnesses to them.14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.17All men will hate you because of me.18But not a hair of your head will perish.19By standing firm you will gain life.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful lessons about humility, faith, and the ultimate triumph of God’s will. The first reading from Daniel recounts the story of King Belshazzar, who, in the midst of a lavish feast, desecrates the sacred vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem. His arrogance and defiance of God lead to a dramatic intervention: a mysterious hand writes a judgment on the wall, which Daniel interprets as the end of Belshazzar’s reign. This story reminds us that pride and disregard for the divine can lead to downfall, while humility and trust in God’s providence are essential virtues.
The Gospel reading from Luke complements this message, as Jesus prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face. He warns them of persecution and betrayal but assures them that they need not fear, for God will give them the words to speak in their hour of need. This passage invites us to reflect on our own trust in God’s providence, especially when we face trials or uncertainties. Like Daniel, we are called to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God’s wisdom and strength will guide us through even the most difficult circumstances.
Together, these readings challenge us to live with humility and courage. In a world often marked by arrogance and division, we are called to glorify God in all we do, trusting that His plan will prevail. Let us strive to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity, and to seek God’s wisdom in our daily lives. By doing so, we will not only find peace in the midst of turmoil but also bear witness to the transformative power of God’s love.