Daily Readings - Wed Nov 29 2023
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 two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on God’s judgment, trust in divine providence, and the call to remain faithful in the face of adversity. The first reading from Daniel recounts the story of King Belshazzar, who, in his arrogance, desecrates the sacred vessels of the Temple during a lavish feast. His defiance of God is met with a mysterious and terrifying sign: a hand writes a message on the wall, which Daniel interprets as a judgment against the king’s pride and disregard for the Lord. The second reading from Luke finds Jesus preparing His disciples for the trials they will face, reassuring them that even in the midst of persecution, God will give them the words to speak and the strength to endure.
The context of these readings is rooted in moments of crisis and judgment. Daniel’s story takes place during the final days of the Babylonian Empire, as God’s judgment falls on a king who has forgotten the source of his power. Luke’s passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He warns His followers about the challenges they will face as they bear witness to the Gospel. Both readings remind us that our actions have consequences and that God’s justice will ultimately prevail. They also emphasize the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even when the world around us seems to be crumbling.
These readings are deeply connected in their themes of judgment, faith, and perseverance. Just as Daniel stood firm in interpreting the writing on the wall, knowing it would cost him, so too are we called to stand firm in our faith, even when it leads to suffering. The Gospel reminds us that our endurance is not in vain; God will see us through, and our patience will ultimately lead to the triumph of the soul. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we, like Belshazzar, allow pride or complacency to cloud our vision of God’s presence in our lives? Or do we, like Daniel and the disciples, trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead seems uncertain?
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to examine our priorities and our relationship with God. Are we using the gifts and resources He has given us for His glory, or are we squandering them on fleeting pleasures? When we face challenges or persecution, do we turn to God for strength, or do we rely on our own limited resources? The moral lesson here is clear: true wisdom comes from acknowledging God’s sovereignty and trusting in His providence. Let us strive to live with humility, gratitude, and unwavering faith, knowing that God’s justice will prevail, and His love will sustain us through all trials.