May the Lord bless you with grace, peace, and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 25th November 2021. We reflect on Daniel 6:12-28 and Luke 21:20-28.
Have you ever regrated for believing? Have ever felt faith is useless? Have you ever thought about to give up on faith? Today’s readings help us to strengthen our faith.
Overcoming obstacles of faith like Daniel and St. Catherine of Alexandria help us experience God in any given situation. As we come to the last story of Daniel’s fidelity to God and the Law, he stood firm to the end against idolatry. Whether it was the fiery furnace (Chapter 3), the interpretation of the king Belshazzar’s dream (Chapters 4 and 5) or in Lion’s den, Daniel was vindicated for his faithfulness to God and the Law and those who accused him were put to death. Faith requires courage and that comes from consistency.
What makes us go on then?
We celebrate the memorial of Catherine of Alexandria, the Virgin, and the martyr. She was just 18 years old when she could debate fifty philosophers and bring them back to Christianity. For her debating skills, she brought many to the Christian faith and was aptly called the patron of Lawyers, Librarians, Philosophers, Students, Teachers. She was sentenced by Emperor Maximian to be ex0.213ecuted on a spiked wheel, but when she touched it, and it was shattered and hence she was martyred by beheading. For the Youth of today, she stands a shining example by her unwavering commitment to Christ and the Church.
Faith in the Lord can protect us from the claws of carnivores just as Daniel experienced it. “May your majesty live forever! My God sent his angel who sealed the lions’ jaws, and they did me no harm since in his sight I am blameless. Neither have I done you any wrong, your majesty.” (Dan.6:22).
St. Luke focuses on the destruction of Jerusalem as the fulfilment of prophecies and the glorious coming of the Son of man, the magnificent figure from the Book of Daniel. Luke encourages us to focus on the Lord than the failures and destruction that are imminent.
“Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Faith strengthens our hope; hope brings us closer to the liberation that we all long for. Everyone is longing for liberation from the slavery of sins, pleasures, things, money, and the glory of the world. This is the momentum to meet Him. May the Lord strengthen our faith withstand all that we need to handle and face it. God bless you.