DAILY- HOMILY

November 25, 2015 WEDNESDAY, 34th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr 

Green  

Dn 5:1–6, 13 -14, 16 -17, 25 – 28 / Lk 21:12–19

[St. Catherine of Alexandria (c. 282 - 310), a young princess and scholar, was martyred in the reign of Emperor Maxentius.]

Reading: Dn 5:1–6, 13-14, 16 - 17, 25 – 28

     King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his nobles, a thousand of them attended and he drank wine with them. Under the influence of wine, he ordered that the gold and silver vessels his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem be brought in so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines might drink from them. The gold and silver vessels taken from God's temple were brought in, and the king and his nobles, his wives and concubines drank from them. While they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone.

     Suddenly a man's fingers appeared opposite the lampstand and wrote on the plastered wall of the king's palace. Watching the hand as it wrote, the king turned pale. So terrified was he that his knees knocked and his legs gave way.

     Daniel was brought in and questioned by the king, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father brought from Judah? I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods, that you have insight and extraordinary wisdom. 

     I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple, wear a gold chain around your neck, and be appointed third in rank in my kingdom."

     Daniel replied, "You may keep your gifts or give them to someone else. Just the same I will read and interpret the writing for you. 

     So he sent the hand that wrote the inscription which read MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. And these words mean: MENE, God has numbered the days of your reign and put an end to it; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PARSIN, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians."

Gospel: Lk 21:12 -19

     Jesus said, "Before all this happens, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you: you will be delivered to the Jewish courts and placed in prison, and for my sake you will be brought before kings and governors. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

     So keep this in mind: do not worry in advance what to answer, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.

     You will be betrayed even by parents, and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.  But even though you are hated by all for my name's sake, not a hair of your head will perish. Through perseverance you will possess your own selves. 

Reflection:

     In the first reading from the Book of Daniel, the wise man Daniel interprets for the frightened King Belshazzar the handwriting on the walls, that "God has numbered the days of his reign and put an end to it," that the king "has been weighed on the scales and found wanting," and that his "kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians."  

     For his wisdom Daniel was rewarded and proclaimed the "third highest ruler in the kingdom." "That very night, however, the Chaldean king Belshazzar was slain."

     In the Gospel reading Jesus speaks of the trials and sufferings his followers will meet and endure for his sake; he also assures them of his presence and support in the difficult times to come. Jesus assures his followers that he would give them wisdom and words to defend themselves and inspiration on what to do. Jesus expects fidelity and faithfulness from his followers, especially in times of trials and persecution.

     We are members of a Church which celebrated the Year of the Laity and which stresses service to the poor. The Church has affirmed the need of a New Evangelization in our modern world.

     Are we inflamed by God's challenge to be his followers and witnesses to the world? 

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     DRA. ZENAIDA G. BAGABALDO

     PAUL JOHN I. SEMANERO

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     GLENN & DOROTHY T. JAO

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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