34th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, Nov 24
Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 / Luke 21:12-19
Words appear on the palace wall; Daniel explained the words.
The New York Times Book Review carried a fascinating article about Oscar Wilde. The article was entitled “He Resisted Everything Except Temptation.” One might say of this talented English writer what Daniel said of the king in today's reading: "Hej rebelled against the Lord of heaven" and "did not glorify [him).”While in jail on a morals charge, Wilde wrote: “Sometimes
there is sunlight in my cell and every day someone whose name is Love (meaning
the Lord of heaven) comes to see me, and weeps so much through prison bars that
it is I who have to comfort him.”
***
Recall a time when we, too, "rebelled against the Lord
of heaven." "The life of every man is a diary in which he means to
write one story and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares
the volume as it is to what he hoped to make it.” James Matthew Barrie
***
The message of hope of the previous days continues in
today’s readings. The Syrian king oppressed the Jews and declared himself
“Epiphanes,” that is, “God become visible”; God will soon judge him and his
kingdom will come to an end. He appears here disguised, under the name
Belshazzar. On the other hand, the persecuted Christians will bear witness to
God and to his Son, Jesus Christ, by their fidelity.
***
Graffiti is writings or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place. In this country, graffiti is a crime as it is the damage to property caused by: spraying, writing, drawing, marking or applying paint or another marking substance to a person's property without their consent. And there can be no question of doing graffiti in high-security places like Parliament House, military headquarters and other dignified places.
In the 1st reading, there was graffiti in, of all places,
the royal palace, where king Belshazzar was having a great banquet with his
noblemen, their wives and singing women, and they were using the sacred vessels
looted from the Temple of Jerusalem.
But that was no ordinary graffiti. It is what is understood as "the
writing on the wall", done by the hand of God. Those words " Mene,
Mene, Tekel, Parsin" were meant for king Belshazzar and he would know what
it was all about and what was going to happen.
In the gospel, Jesus tells of another hand, but not that of God. It is the hand
of injustice and persecution. It is the hand of evil and hate that wants to
stop the Good News from spreading. It is a hand to be reckoned with, but Jesus
will also be at hand to defend us and help us bear witness to Him. We just have
to hold on to the hand of Jesus, and He will write His name on the walls of our
hearts.
***
Our baptism has made us witnesses of Christ. But it is not
always an easy path, especially in times of great change, and even more so for
missionaries. Difficulties will come from those closest to us. But we may rest
assured that Christ is with us and that through his Spirit he will make us
eloquent and give us the wisdom what to say and do. Do not be afraid!
***
Prayer
God, our Father, we believe that your plans for us are for
peace and courage, and not for fear. Keep us open-eyed to the signs of the
constant coming of Jesus, your Son. Help us to commit ourselves untiringly to
the growth of your kingdom among us by carrying out your plans for peace and
love and for all that makes our world more your world and the way to your home.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen
