--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 11/25/09 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 11/25/09 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/11/25/daily-readings-reflection-for-112509#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 11/25/09 Nov 25, 2009 9:00:06 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Reflection on Today’s Daily Readings by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png "More...") [Today’s Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab/) Scripture: Lectionary # 505. Wed. of 34 week. Daniel 5:1-6.13-14.16-17.23-28. Daniel 3:62-67. Luke 21:12-19: Daniel with his gift of interpreting dreams and visions does so again in the dramatic episode of a hand appearing on a wall while writing three Aramaic words: MENE, TEKEL, PERES. The vizier Belshazzar son of Nabonidis not Nebuchadnezzar trembles as he listens to the wise Daniel explain the mystery of the writing. It indicates that the Medes and Persians would overcome Babylon and become its rulers. In fact, we learn that after all the carousing and desecrating of the cups taken from the Temple in Jerusalem that Belshazzar falls ill and dies that very night. The story is more of a legend and dramatically shows the working of God in the four young men who were first trained to be advisiors and administrators but later punished in a burning furnace for the belief in God. They miraculously escape and gain favor for a good number of years. The writing of this story is about three hundred years removed from the time of the events narrated, hence, many accretions appear within the text to edify those who are believing in this inspired writing which takes on a special genre that sometimes is erroneously classified as apocalyptic. The book of Revelation is a true apocalyptic work that relies heavily on Daniel but is best suited for studying the apocalyptic genre. The beautiful hymn of the four young men continue throughout this week that parallels Thanksgiving and is appropriate as a thanksgiving psalm response similar to the TE DEUM. Praise of God is central as well as expressed in a thanksgiving tone of appreciation for all of God's good gifts that come from heaven above and are created by God in all their beauty. Returning to the selection for the day we easily catch the message that God works through human history in mysterious ways and that salvation history continues throughout all of the epochs of the human race even though we may not sense it or even think about it. We need Job and the Books of Wisdom literature to help us comprehend God's work in human history. The writer is clever in giving us things to ponder over like those three words above. They have a twofold meaning here. They are part of the system of weights which indicate the diminishment of the kingdoms that once were so powerful. They also have meaning from the verbs to which they have a relationship in Aramaic. Mene means numbering things or days; Tekel is weighing them in the scales of justice; Peres is the dividing of the kingdoms one against each other, etc. All point to the message that the Chaldeans will soon plummet into destruction from other powers coming from Persia and the Medes. Our Gospel continues with Jesus presenting desciptively what will happen in the destruction of the holy city and possibly may refer to an image of the end times. Jesus does so in a clear manner that makes sense to us without needing to unravel the mysterious symbolism of the Book of Daniel. In either case we may think of the fading days of any power positioin. It is expressed in what formerly was used while a Pope was being installed: Sic transit gloria mundi. "So passes the glory of the world." 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