First Reading - Daniel 5:1-28
Gospel - Luke 21:12-19
In the first reading, we hear about another example of the manifestation of God's power through Daniel. The desecration of the cups and vessels by the king Belshazaar and his household which were brought by the king Nebuchadnezzar, stirs God's anger. God manifests his anger by writing the pronouncement of judgement for the desecration on the wall. Daniel unfolds the judgement of God to the king which results in the end of the sovereignty of the king by the division of the kingdom. The main emphasis of the dramatic scene of the passage is to show that the things consecrated to God bear sacred imprint of God. Hence, they must be cared and respected. Desecration of the cups and vessels of the temple by the king shows disrespect for the sacred things.
Today’s Gospel gives Jesus’ prophetic warning to the apostles and disciples about the sufferings they will have to bear for their Faith in Him until his Second Coming. Jesus advises them to bear witness to Him in spite of persecutions and trials in the form of maltreatment, imprisonment, being arraigned before the governors and kings and being betrayed by own relatives and friends. Jesus asks all his disciples to remain bearing witness to him. Jesus also assures all his disciples that all through their trials and sufferings, they will be accompanied by him. It's their endurance through their sufferings in the name of him, Jesus promises his disciples a crown of eternal glory.
This passage also throws light upon the historical situation of the early suffering Church. This passage was an encouragement and hope to the suffering Christians under the oppressive emperors. The passage filled them with hope to endure fierce persecution and suffering and never give in to apostasy.
Dear friends, the Church has ample exemplary figures who understood the sacredness of faith in Jesus and stood firm in the midst of suffering and fierce persecutions. In the first reading, we heard that the consecrated things bear the imprint of sacredness and divinity and any disrespect can't be brooked by God. This is also same with the sacredness of faith in Jesus. The trials and sufferings are hard to bear and are difficult to persevere through them but it's our faith in Jesus and endurance can win God's company all through sufferings and trials as Jesus himself mentions in the gospel - "I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict" - and this will eventually make us worthy to receive eternal life in him. We, as believers, are to bear witness to our faith in Jesus through our works and lives.
We are also invited today to show great care to the sacred objects and things. Any disrespect or desecration shown to them evinces our lack of faith and sense of sacredness. We need to understand the sacredness of the consecrated things because they are in a particular way offered to God. Our due respect to the sacred objects and things manifest our due respect and faith in God.
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