Today and for the rest of this week, we’re going to meet and learn about the Prophet Daniel. Today’s first reading is the beginning of the book of Daniel. We’ll talk about him in a moment. In the Gospel reading today from Luke 21, we see the story of the widow’s mite. Jesus witnesses a poor widow putting two small coins in the treasury. He says, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest.”
Judah had been overtaken by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The king wanted to take the cream of the crop of the young men of Judah and test them to see if they would do well in his service. Daniel was one of these young men. But Daniel was a faithful child of Israel. He refused to eat the food offered to him, as it would defile him. So he asked that he and three of his friends could be fed only vegetables. Thinking it would make them weak, the chamberlain reluctantly agreed. God saw to it that the young men were fitter and stronger than the rest.
This is not a story about the benefits of being a vegetarian. It is a story about God’s providence. Daniel and his friends knew that they must keep God’s laws. And, rather than have it end badly for them, God blessed. Not only with physical well being, but with wisdom and knowledge. Read today’s reading. And know that when we follow God’s laws, He will bless us, too.
Father, help us to be like Daniel. To be faithful to your teachings and your laws always. Help us remember that you will bless us with wisdom and knowledge. Amen.
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