First Reading: (Daniel 6:12–28)
In this powerful passage, Daniel refuses to compromise his faith even when the king’s decree makes prayer to anyone but the king a capital offense. Daniel continues his practice of praying three times a day, facing Jerusalem. His enemies exploit his devotion, and he is thrown into the lions’ den.
Yet God intervenes. He sends His angel to shut the lions’ mouths. Daniel is found unharmed, and King Darius, moved by the miracle, proclaims that Daniel’s God is the living God, whose kingdom shall never be destroyed.
This scene reveals several profound truths:
Faithfulness invites trial, but also divine protection.
Real power does not lie in earthly decrees, but in God’s sovereignty.
Those who scheme against the righteous ultimately fall into their own traps.
Daniel stands as a model of integrity, prayer, and unwavering trust. He does not bow to fear or pressure. He remains loyal to God, even at the risk of death.
Responsorial Psalm:
(Daniel 3:68–74)
Response: “Give glory and eternal praise to him.”
The psalm continues the cosmic litany of praise from the book of Daniel. Dew and rain, frost and chill, nights and days, light and darkness, all creation blesses the Lord.
This psalm reminds us:
Creation praises God without resistance.
We join a universal hymn every time we worship.
The natural world becomes a teacher of reverence and humility.
Even frost, snow, storms, lightning, things that feel disruptive to us, are instruments of God’s glory. This challenges us to see God not only in calm moments, but also in the seasons of cold, difficulty, and transition.
Alleluia: (Luke 21:28)
“Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”
Gospel: (Luke 21:20–28)
Jesus describes the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the turmoil that will shake nations. The imagery is unsettling, sieges, suffering, signs in the heavens. Yet the Gospel contains a message of profound hope:
When the world trembles, God is still in control.
Redemption draws near precisely in times of upheaval.
Disciples are called to stand upright, not collapse into fear.
Where others panic, the follower of Christ lifts his head, knowing that salvation, not doom, is approaching.
The Gospel and the story of Daniel mirror one another:
Both show a world of threats.
Both show a faithful servant surrounded by hostility.
Both reveal a God who rescues, vindicates, and proves that His kingdom cannot be shaken.
Reflection
“We love to lower ourselves to evildoers because of what temporary comforts they can offer us.”
This is a piercing truth. Human beings often surrender principles, convictions, and even faith for the sake of acceptance, convenience, or temporary peace. Daniel could have folded. He could have prayed secretly, or not at all, just to avoid trouble. But he refused to trade integrity for safety.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns that the world will offer many false securities, political power, military strength, social status, but all of these collapse.
Faithfulness is costly, but compromise is deadly.
Daniel chose faith over comfort.
Jesus calls His disciples to courage over fear.
Today’s readings speak clearly:
Do not bow to pressure.
Do not trade truth for ease.
Do not let fear silence your prayer.
Do not forget that God rescues in His own time.
Redemption is not an abstract idea; it is near.
Closer than the threats around us.
Closer than the chaos in the world.
Closer than the lions at our door.
When faced with hostility, criticism, or misunderstanding, remember Daniel’s calm courage.
When the world feels unstable, remember Jesus’ command: “Stand erect.”
When you are tempted to compromise your values, recall that God’s salvation draws near especially in moments of testing.
Join creation daily in praising God, through your words, your work, and your witness.
Let your life say what the psalm says:
“Give glory and eternal praise to Him.”
May we be Daniels in our generation, faithful, steady, and unafraid, trusting that the God who shut the lions’ mouths is the same God who carries us through every storm and leads us toward redemption.
Have a great day
Happy Thanksgiving
God bless
Pal Ronnie
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