Be graves of hatred

Fr. JC Rapadas, SVD
Nov 26, 2019
4 min read

Our Gospel was originally intended for the followers of Jesus and the martyrdom of the early church members. It basically refers to the events which happened during the first until second centuries of Christianity. But it remains true to us today because we live in a world where religious and cultural differences are widening. We experience today a kind of hatred against those who do not share our beliefs and values. Classic of which would be the differences between Muslims and Christians. Differences between liberals and conservatives.

There is so much differences in the world today. There is too much hatred and hate speech in the world today. It seemed the world have tolerated violence and hate and we are turning a blind eye to this atrocities because differences are becoming the new norm.

Today the Lord is reminding us to become men and women of right principles and conviction. It means we must be ready to stand by our principles at all times. In our Gospel we hear Jesus saying you are not to prepare your defense for I will give you wisdom in speaking. It gives us the idea that in the face of trials and persecutions, Christians must find our strength in our principles and convictions anchored in Christ.

Daniel is a perfect example of this. He spoke what God wants him to speak about no matter what. He spoke against the evildoings of Bekshazzar fearlessly. Belshazzar is the son of Nebuchadnezzar who pillaged the temple in Jerusalem and desecrated the spoils. Daniel knew he was just made by God as a interpreter of the dream. But as mentioned, Daniel is filled with the Spirit of the Lord. This Spirit is the spirit of courage and honesty.

Our readings remind us to be principled human beings, principled Christians. The source of our principle is Christ himself. In the midst of persecution, imprisonment, betrayal, abandonment, trials, tribulations and even death, we are invited to become graves of hatred. When the world gives us hatred and violence, allow the hatred die in us and through us. When the world gives us violence, allow the violence to die in us or through us or when needed with us.

This is how we give witness. Not just words but also in deeds and even in death.

FIRST READING

Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords,

with whom he drank.

Under the influence of the wine,

he ordered the gold and silver vessels

which Nebuchadnezzar, his father,

had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,

to be brought in so that the king, his lords,

his wives and his entertainers might drink from them.

When the gold and silver vessels

taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in,

and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers

were drinking wine from them,

they praised their gods of gold and silver,

bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Suddenly, opposite the lampstand,

the fingers of a human hand appeared,

writing on the plaster of the wall in the king's palace.

When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched;

his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook,

and his knees knocked.

Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king.

The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile,

whom my father, the king, brought from Judah?

I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you,

that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom.

I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties;

if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means,

you shall be clothed in purple,

wear a gold collar about your neck,

and be third in the government of the kingdom.”

Daniel answered the king:

“You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else;

but the writing I will read for you, O king,

and tell you what it means.

You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven.

You had the vessels of his temple brought before you,

so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers,

might drink wine from them;

and you praised the gods of silver and gold,

bronze and iron, wood and stone,

that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence.

But the God in whose hand is your life breath

and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify.

By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down.

“This is the writing that was inscribed:

MENE, TEKEL, and PERES.

These words mean:

MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it;

TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;

PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM