Readings for Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
In this reading from the Book of Daniel the son of Nebuchadnezzar (actually a crown prince), Belshazzar profanes the spoils of the Temple in Jerusalem at a huge party. In the midst of their revelry the vision of a hand writes words on the wall that none of the court scholars or wise men can interpret. At that point, Daniel is brought in and offered a huge reward to interpret the writing. He declines the reward and tells the prince how the words are interpreted.
The words written, Mene, Tekel, and Peres, according to scholars are Aramaic names for weights and monetary values: “the mina, the shekel (the sixtieth part of a mina), and the parsu (a half-mina).” Daniel’s interpretation plays on these words. Quoting from the NAB Footnotes once more: “Mene, (is) connected with the verb meaning to number; Tekel, with the verb meaning to weigh; Peres, with the verb meaning to divide. There is also a play on the last term with the word for Persians.”
The underlying meaning we take from this story is the vision of the God of Justice who, in the eyes of the faithful, rejects those who reject him and structures built upon such greed will not stand. In the full text of this chapter this meaning is punctuated by the death of Belshazzar who is slain the night of the party.
Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
The selection from Daniel used as a Psalm Response is once more take from the chant of by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This long hymn of praise (from verse 24 to verse 90) is used extensively in the Liturgy of the Hours on Feasts and High Holy Days as our united song of praise to the Father
Gospel Luke 21:12-19
The apocalyptic discourse from St. Luke’s Gospel continues as Jesus who has just predicted the destruction of Jerusalem now tells the crowd that this does not mean the end time has come. He predicts the great persecutions that indeed take place. The subject of how the Gospel message will divide families is once more brought in as the Lord informs those present that the persecution will take place within families as well as society at large.
Reflection:
The lesson we take away from these scripture selections must be that the foundation of whatever we build must be securely grounded in our faith values. If we examine what has transpired in the readings from Daniel we see a clear picture unfolding. King Nebuchadnezzar is seen by the early Hebrews as being a destructive force “allowed” to capture and sack Jerusalem and the Temple. Essentially, he is viewed as a punishment for the faithlessness of the people.
His actions, in the view of the authors of Daniel, go too far. The spoils of the Temple of Jerusalem are taken to the king’s son Belshazzar who profanes them by using the Temple’s sacred vessels to toast the graven images worshiped by the Babylonians. God’s hand writes the doom of this kingdom on the wall of the hall in which the celebratory party is being held. Daniel’s interpretation is seen as the judgment of God upon those who hedonistically trample the sacred underfoot for human profit. The Hebrew vision of the God of Justice is fulfilled quickly as this story ends with the death of Belshazzar that very evening, validating the truth Daniel’s interpretation.
The moral we take away from this story is tempered by the New Covenant. When the Lord came, he showed us a new vision of God. Indeed, that was a major purpose in His coming. He revealed a Father who is loving and merciful. Through our new understanding we see Nebuchadnezzar as a godless barbarian whose cruelty and debauchery earned him the rewards of what was sown as do all the servants of the Evil One. But the lesson is not lost on us. We see how important it is to stay firmly grounded in Christ. If we fall prey to human weakness and profane that which is holy, we too walk in the steps of those who tread in darkness.
Today our prayer is that all we accomplish may be held up for God’s greater glory and that with great care, we will keep all that is sacred and holy safe from the poison of sin.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Daniel and the feast of Belshazzar” by Marie Odile de LaForade Date UNKNOWN
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
In this reading from the Book of Daniel the son of Nebuchadnezzar (actually a crown prince), Belshazzar profanes the spoils of the Temple in Jerusalem at a huge party. In the midst of their revelry the vision of a hand writes words on the wall that none of the court scholars or wise men can interpret. At that point, Daniel is brought in and offered a huge reward to interpret the writing. He declines the reward and tells the prince how the words are interpreted.
The words written, Mene, Tekel, and Peres, according to scholars are Aramaic names for weights and monetary values: “the mina, the shekel (the sixtieth part of a mina), and the parsu (a half-mina).” Daniel’s interpretation plays on these words. Quoting from the NAB Footnotes once more: “Mene, (is) connected with the verb meaning to number; Tekel, with the verb meaning to weigh; Peres, with the verb meaning to divide. There is also a play on the last term with the word for Persians.”
The underlying meaning we take from this story is the vision of the God of Justice who, in the eyes of the faithful, rejects those who reject him and structures built upon such greed will not stand. In the full text of this chapter this meaning is punctuated by the death of Belshazzar who is slain the night of the party.
Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
The selection from Daniel used as a Psalm Response is once more take from the chant of by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This long hymn of praise (from verse 24 to verse 90) is used extensively in the Liturgy of the Hours on Feasts and High Holy Days as our united song of praise to the Father
Gospel Luke 21:12-19
The apocalyptic discourse from St. Luke’s Gospel continues as Jesus who has just predicted the destruction of Jerusalem now tells the crowd that this does not mean the end time has come. He predicts the great persecutions that indeed take place. The subject of how the Gospel message will divide families is once more brought in as the Lord informs those present that the persecution will take place within families as well as society at large.
Reflection:
The lesson we take away from these scripture selections must be that the foundation of whatever we build must be securely grounded in our faith values. If we examine what has transpired in the readings from Daniel we see a clear picture unfolding. King Nebuchadnezzar is seen by the early Hebrews as being a destructive force “allowed” to capture and sack Jerusalem and the Temple. Essentially, he is viewed as a punishment for the faithlessness of the people.
His actions, in the view of the authors of Daniel, go too far. The spoils of the Temple of Jerusalem are taken to the king’s son Belshazzar who profanes them by using the Temple’s sacred vessels to toast the graven images worshiped by the Babylonians. God’s hand writes the doom of this kingdom on the wall of the hall in which the celebratory party is being held. Daniel’s interpretation is seen as the judgment of God upon those who hedonistically trample the sacred underfoot for human profit. The Hebrew vision of the God of Justice is fulfilled quickly as this story ends with the death of Belshazzar that very evening, validating the truth Daniel’s interpretation.
The moral we take away from this story is tempered by the New Covenant. When the Lord came, he showed us a new vision of God. Indeed, that was a major purpose in His coming. He revealed a Father who is loving and merciful. Through our new understanding we see Nebuchadnezzar as a godless barbarian whose cruelty and debauchery earned him the rewards of what was sown as do all the servants of the Evil One. But the lesson is not lost on us. We see how important it is to stay firmly grounded in Christ. If we fall prey to human weakness and profane that which is holy, we too walk in the steps of those who tread in darkness.
Today our prayer is that all we accomplish may be held up for God’s greater glory and that with great care, we will keep all that is sacred and holy safe from the poison of sin.
Pax
[1] After Links to Readings Expire
[2] The picture used today is “Daniel and the feast of Belshazzar” by Marie Odile de LaForade Date UNKNOWN
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