Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
Luke 21:12-19
Summary
The first reading is the proverbial “there his handwriting on the
wall,” but this time it is the Lord God warning King Belshazzar.
In the psalm we sing "give glory and eternal praise to him". In today's gospel we
are told to trust in God's wisdom.
Reflection
Some years ago I heard a story about Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Apparently she
was invited to make a presentation at a Vatican event. A day or two before the
event, one of the event producers sought out Mother Teresa and asked her for a
copy of her script. The feeling was she might need to be edited. Mother Teresa
told the inquirer than she did not have a script because the Lord has not yet re-
vealed to her what she was to say. She comforted him and said that God has
never let her down as of yet, and he need not worry she will be ready for the
event.
I snicker at such a response. Yet do I have
such courage? I often, when having to
make a presentation spend a great deal of
time preparing. I almost always write up my
talk and then go over it a few times. Is this
gospel asking me to be less prepared? I
think not. When one carefully reads the
passage it says, "I will lead you in giving
testimony. Remember, you are not to pre-
pare beforehand, for I will give you wisdom
in speaking that your adversaries will be
powerless to resist or refute. "