November 28, 2013 - Thursday Of The Thirty-Fourth Week In Ordinary Time

November 28, 2013 
Lectionary: 506
Reading 1 DN 6:12-28

King Darius had been tricked by the wise men, so called, to forbid any man to worship anyone but the King.  They had done this because they knew that Daniel, the wisest of the wise men, would never cease to pray to God.

Some men rushed into the upper chamber of Daniel’s home
and found him praying and pleading before his God.

And so, when they knew that he would be praying, they went to his house to apprehend him.

Then they went to remind the king about the prohibition:
“Did you not decree, O king,
that no one is to address a petition to god or man
for thirty days, except to you, O king;
otherwise he shall be cast into a den of lions?”
The king answered them, “The decree is absolute,
irrevocable under the Mede and Persian law.”
To this they replied, “Daniel, the Jewish exile,
has paid no attention to you, O king,
or to the decree you issued;
three times a day he offers his prayer.”

Then, they tried to induce the King to keep his word and condemn Daniel to death.

The king was deeply grieved at this news
and he made up his mind to save Daniel;
he worked till sunset to rescue him.

But the King loved Daniel and wanted to do something to save him and yet, save his own honor.

But these men insisted.
They said, “Keep in mind, O king,
that under the Mede and Persian law
every royal prohibition or decree is irrevocable.”
So the king ordered Daniel to be brought and cast into the lions’ den.

But the wise men pressed him and the King was forced to act.  He therefore, had Daniel thrown into the Lions' den to be killed by the wild beasts.

To Daniel he said,
“May your God, whom you serve so constantly, save you.”

Then the King offered a prayer to God that God would save him from that fate.

To forestall any tampering,
the king sealed with his own ring and the rings of the lords
the stone that had been brought to block the opening of the den.

Then the King sealed the den in a manner that any tampering would be identified.

Then the king returned to his palace for the night;
he refused to eat and he dismissed the entertainers.

But the King was so sad that he couldn't eat.

Since sleep was impossible for him,

or sleep.

the king rose very early the next morning
and hastened to the lions’ den.
As he drew near, he cried out to Daniel sorrowfully,
“O Daniel, servant of the living God,
has the God whom you serve so constantly
been able to save you from the lions?”

And he woke up early and ran to see what had happened to Daniel.  Hoping that God had saved him from the lions.  He asked, "Has your God saved you, Daniel?"

Daniel answered the king: “O king, live forever!
My God has sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths
so that they have not hurt me.
For I have been found innocent before him;
neither to you have I done any harm, O king!”

"Yes, my King!" Replied Daniel from the den.

This gave the king great joy.
At his order Daniel was removed from the den,
unhurt because he trusted in his God.
The king then ordered the men who had accused Daniel,
along with their children and their wives,
to be cast into the lions’ den.
Before they reached the bottom of the den,
the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

That was enough for King Darius.  He ordered that Daniel be taken from the den and those who orchestrated his death be put there in his place along with their families.

Then King Darius wrote to the nations and peoples of every language,
wherever they dwell on the earth: “All peace to you!
I decree that throughout my royal domain
the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared:

“For he is the living God, enduring forever;
his Kingdom shall not be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be without end.
He is a deliverer and savior,
working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth,
and he delivered Daniel from the lions’ power.”

And then King Darius converted to the faith of the God of Daniel.  For he had seen with his own eyes that God is a living God who has mercy upon all who love Him.  And he commanded that all in the Kingdom follow his example.

Responsorial Psalm DN 3:68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74

R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Frost and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Ice and snow, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Nights and days, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Let the earth bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

Give glory to God for He is good!  His mercy endures forever!  Praise and glory to God forever!

Gospel LK 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples:
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
know that its desolation is at hand.

This is a prediction of the siege of Jersusalem in 70ad when the Romans destroyed and razed Jerusalem to the ground.

Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Let those within the city escape from it,
and let those in the countryside not enter the city,
for these days are the time of punishment
when all the Scriptures are fulfilled.
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,
for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth
and a wrathful judgment upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword
and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles;
and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

And Jerusalem has remained in the control of Gentiles to this day.  Although some of the Jews have returned, the Muslims remain in control of most of the Holy Sites.

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”

But when the fullness of the Gentiles has come, we will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds!  Be ready for that day!