Friday 1 December
Friday of week 34 in Ordinary Time First reading - Daniel 7:2-14 This vision in Daniel 7 is complex and has been subject to various interpretations across Jewish and Christian traditions. It's important to consider the historical context, the symbolic language of apocalyptic literature, and the theological perspectives within which this text is interpreted. This vision plays a significant role in both Jewish eschatology and Christian theology, particularly in understanding the concept of the Messiah and end-time prophecies. Important is to understand the second part of the reading where we can see the son of man. “On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants”. It’s also important to see and to live that everything in us also submit ourselves to the authority of the son of man. Let’s reflect: How much do I surrender myself to the Son of man?
Thursday 30 November
Saint Andrew, Apostle - Feast
First reading - Romans 10:9-18
Today we are celebrating the feast of St. Andrew, one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. On the feast day, the Church is giving us to meditate on the difference between confessing with lips that Jesus is Lord and believing in heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Believing in heart makes one righteous according to the Word of God. From the preaching we hear the Good News and then we believe in Christ. From believing we move to confessing with lips. And then there is a step further, believing in heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. That we feel the same sentiments in our heart about the resurrection. In moments of darkness and difficulties, we must believe in our heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The same light is to lighten up my heart and make me righteous. Let’s reflect: Can I move from confessing with lips to believing in heart that Jesus is Risen from the dead?
Wednesday 29 November
Wednesday of week 34 in Ordinary Time First reading - Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28 “You have praised gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone, which cannot either see, hear or understand; but you have given no glory to the God who holds your breath and all your fortunes in his hands”. In all circumstances we are called to see the true God and His hand. We can easily miss the presence of true God in our lives and mistakenly give the importance to those things which seems important for us. In the case of King Belshazzar, we got blind by the gold and silver and failed to see God who held his breath and all his fortunes. That mistake is what failed him. The writing on the wall said that God has weighed him and found something important missing. The missing element is his capacity to recognize the True God in the presence of his riches and pleasure. The wealth and success are elements which sometimes blind us to see the Giver of wealth and success. Let’s reflect: What I see most: my success or the Giver of my success?
Tuesday 28 November
Tuesday of week 34 in Ordinary Time First reading - Daniel 2:31-45 In this passage we can see that Daniel interprets the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. The King had the dream about the future of his kingdom. But he couldn’t explain the meaning of this dream. He needs interpreter and Daniel is the instrument of God which explains the meaning of the dream. This picture is very much revealing about the way God works in our life. His plan is perfect. He reigns with justice and truth. The point here is to understand the plan of God through the Word of God as revealed in the Church. The Lord uses charismatic persons for that. We must listen to the Church and make our personal history same as the plan of God. Let’s reflect: Am I listening to the Word of God as a plan of life for me?