The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to maintain faith, hope, and love in our Way of Life on our daily journey.
The reading from the Book of Daniel describes the life of four young Israelites at the Babylonian Court.
* [1:8] This defilement: the bread, meat, and wine of the Gentiles were unclean (Hos 9:3; Tb 1:12; Jdt 10:5; 12:1–2) because they might have been offered to idols; and the meat may not have been drained of blood, as Jewish dietary law requires. This test relates to the attempt of Antiochus to force Jews to eat forbidden foods in contempt of their religion (1 Mc 1:62–63; 2 Mc 6:18; 7:1). (Daniel, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
The response psalm is from Daniel 3 of Monday November 27, 2023.
* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures. (Daniel, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus comments on the Widow’s Offering.
* [21:1–4] The widow is another example of the poor ones in this gospel whose detachment from material possessions and dependence on God leads to their blessedness (Lk 6:20). Her simple offering provides a striking contrast to the pride and pretentiousness of the scribes denounced in the preceding section (Lk 20:45–47). The story is taken from Mk 12:41–44. (Luke, CHAPTER 21, n.d.)
Candice Tucci, O.S.F. notes that the young men shared their gifts of knowledge, proficiency in all literature and science and Daniel, the understanding of visions and dreams. These gifts were recognized by the king and put them in service. They used and shared the gifts that the God of their ancestors had given them.
In his own captivity, Daniel could give glory and praise God forever! Can we, no matter what our circumstances, do the same?
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestors,
Praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
Praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages…FOREVER! (Tucci, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Mercy and compassion are never worthless,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"Although the spite of some people does not grow gentle with any kindness, nevertheless the works of mercy are not fruitless, and kindness never loses what is offered to the ungrateful. May no one, dearly beloved, make themselves strangers to good works. Let no one claim that his poverty scarcely sufficed for himself and could not help another. What is offered from a little is great, and in the scale of divine justice, the quantity of gifts is not measured but the steadfastness of souls. The "widow" in the Gospel put two coins into the "treasury," and this surpassed the gifts of all the rich. No mercy is worthless before God. No compassion is fruitless. He has given different resources to human beings, but he does not ask different affections." (excerpt from Sermon 20.3.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 21:1-4 comments that Jesus is pleased whenever we sacrifice for him and for his people, but he is especially delighted when our gift comes from our lack. Thankfully, his Holy Spirit helps us to see what we most need to surrender to him and also gives us the grace to do it. As we respond to the Spirit’s leading, we will discover God’s abundant goodness in unexpected places. How beautiful that the more we offer to him, the more grace we find filling us up!
Just as the widow trusted in the surplus of her Father, you can trust that there is no scarcity in God’s kingdom. Your heavenly Father will provide you with the grace you need. He can give you strength to care for your family when you feel overwhelmed. He can remind you of his love as you persist in a dry season in prayer. He can give you compassion for people in need so that you become more generous. He sees you, loves you, and rejoices when you offer him anything out of your poverty.
“Thank you, Lord, for seeing me. Help me to give generously to you and to your people.” (Meditation on Luke 21:1-4, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the Book of Daniel is set in the time of the Babylonian exile but it was probably written during the occupation of the Seleucid Empire to encourage the Israelites to maintain their religious customs and observances in opposition to the Greek influence. Friar Jude notes the story of the Widow’s Offering urges us to do what we can today, perhaps more tomorrow, and leave judgement to God.
Barbara Holmes describes the prophetic witness of Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977). Hamer often grounded her words in Scripture and in her faith that God and God’s justice was with her.
It’s poison; it’s poison for us not to speak what we know is right. As Christ said from the seventeenth chapter of Acts and the twenty-sixth verse, says: “Has made of one blood all nations, for to dwell on the face of the earth.” Then it’s no different, we just have different colors.
And, brother, you can believe this or not: I been sick of this system as long as I can remember…. I been as hungry—it’s a funny thing since I started working for Christ—it’s kind of like in the twenty-third of Psalms when he says, “Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou anointed my head with oil and my cup runneth over.”
And I have walked through the shadows of death because it was on the tenth of September in ’62 when they shot sixteen times in a house and it wasn’t a foot over the bed where my head was. But that night I wasn’t there—don’t you see what God can do? Quit running around trying to dodge death because this book said, “He that seeketh to save his life, he’s going to lose it anyhow!” [Luke 9:24] …
All we got to do—that’s why I love the song “This Little Light of Mine”—from the fifth chapter of Matthew. He said, “A city that’s set on a hill cannot be hid.” And I don’t mind my light shining; I don’t hide that I’m fighting for freedom because Christ died to set us free. [2] (Holmes, 2023)
We live in a society that sometimes exerts pressure on us to conform and compromise but we have the Holy Spirit to show us the Way that strengthens our relationship with God in challenging times.
References
Daniel, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/1?1
Daniel, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3
Holmes, B. (2023, November 27). God's Hand in Mine — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/gods-hand-in-mine/
Luke, CHAPTER 21. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21?
Meditation on Luke 21:1-4. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/11/27/837947/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=nov27
Tucci, C. (2023, November 27). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 27, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112723.html
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