Readings

Daniel 5.1–6, 13–14, 16–17, 23–28 – King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the vessels of gold and silver that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, ‘So you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that enlightenment, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and tell me its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the kingdom.’ Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, ‘Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation. You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! The vessels of his temple have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honoured. ‘So from his presence the hand was sent and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: mene, mene, tekel, and parsin. This is the interpretation of the matter: mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; tekel, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’

Luke 21.12–19 – ‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Reflection

Our readings today place before us two scenes of unsettling clarity. In Daniel, we are taken into the banqueting hall of King Belshazzar—a room full of noise, pride, and excess. The king holds a feast to display his power, even using the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem. It seems that co-opting religious symbols for political gain is therefore nothing new.

At the height of Belshazzar’s self-confidence, a mysterious hand appears and writes on the wall. The atmosphere shifts in an instant: his bravado melts; his legs give way. God has spoken, and the truth exposes the delusion of human power.

Daniel, summoned from obscurity, stands in stark contrast to Belshazzar. He refuses the king’s gifts and rewards. His integrity is not for sale. Instead, he names the reality that Belshazzar has refused to see: that all power belongs to God, that pride leads to downfall, and that a kingdom built on arrogance and injustice cannot stand. Daniel’s message is not comfortable, but it is truthful—and it is that truth which ultimately sets God’s purposes in motion.

In the Gospel, Jesus prepares his disciples for their own moment of truth. They, too, will stand before rulers and councils. Not at banquets, but in trials. Not in celebration, but in accusation. Jesus does not promise them escape from hardship. Instead, he promises something more precious: “I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.” Their endurance, he says, will be their salvation.

Both readings ask us to reflect on where we stand when the illusions of the world meet the truth of God. Belshazzar shows us how easy it is to live as though our own comfort, status, or security are the things that matter most. Daniel reminds us that God sees differently—that God honours humility, faithfulness, and courage. And Jesus invites us to trust that when faithfulness becomes costly, when our convictions are tested, he will be with us, giving us the words and the strength we need.

We may not face kings or councils, but each of us will face moments when the gospel calls us to speak truthfully, to act justly, or to stand with those who are vulnerable. In those moments, the question is not whether we feel strong or eloquent. The question is whether we trust the God who writes truth on the walls of human pride; the Christ who stands beside his disciples in every trial; the Spirit who gives wisdom and courage when we need it most.

So today, let us pray for the grace of Daniel: integrity that cannot be bought, courage that does not waver, and clarity to recognise God’s hand at work in our world. And let us pray for the endurance Jesus speaks of—an endurance rooted not in our own strength, but in the faithfulness of God, who holds our lives and our future in his loving hands.

Amen.