Daily Readings - Sat Dec 02 2023
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 interplay between faith, vigilance, and trust in God’s ultimate triumph over evil. In the first reading from Daniel, we encounter a vision of four beasts, symbolizing four kingdoms that rise and fall. The fourth beast, particularly fearsome, represents a kingdom that seeks to dominate and oppress. Yet, Daniel is assured that the saints of the Most High will ultimately receive the kingdom, and God’s people will endure. This apocalyptic imagery reminds us that, despite the chaos and challenges of this world, God’s sovereignty is unshaken, and His plan for the holy ones will prevail.
In the Gospel, Luke presents Jesus urging His disciples to remain vigilant and prayerful. He warns against being weighed down by the cares of this life and the temptation to indulge in worldly comforts. Jesus compares the coming day of reckoning to a snare that will catch the unprepared. This passage is a call to live with our hearts fixed on eternal realities, not distracted by fleeting pleasures or anxieties. It reminds us that our ultimate destiny is to stand before the Son of Man, and we must be ready.
Both readings, though separated by centuries, share a common theme: trust in God’s plan and the necessity of remaining faithful amidst uncertainty. Daniel’s vision assures us that even in the face of overwhelming evil, God’s kingdom will triumph. Luke’s Gospel challenges us to live with eyes open, hearts pure, and spirits prayerful, so that we may not be caught off guard by the trials of this life. Together, they teach us to stay grounded in faith, to avoid being consumed by the distractions and temptations of the world, and to trust that God’s justice and love will ultimately prevail. Let us strive to live each day with this hope and vigilance, knowing that we are called to be holy ones of the Most High, destined for an everlasting kingdom.