FIRST READING - Dan 6:12-28

"My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths."

A reading from the Book of Daniel

¹² So these men stormed in and found Daniel praying and pleading before his God. ¹³ Then they went to remind the king about the prohibition: “Did you not sign a decree, O king, that for thirty days, whoever makes a petition to anyone, divine or human, except to you, O king, shall be cast into a den of lions?” The king answered them, “The decree is absolute, irrevocable under the law of the Medes and Persians.” ¹⁴ To this they replied, “Daniel, one of the Jewish exiles, has paid no attention to you, O king, or to the prohibition you signed; three times a day he offers his prayer.” ¹⁵ The king was deeply grieved at this news and he made up his mind to save Daniel; he worked till sunset to rescue him. ¹⁶ But these men pressed the king. “Keep in mind, O king,” they said, “that under the law of the Medes and Persians every royal prohibition or decree is irrevocable.” ¹⁷ So the king ordered Daniel to be brought and cast into the lions’ den.^[a] To Daniel he said, “Your God, whom you serve so constantly, must save you.” ¹⁸ To forestall any tampering, the king sealed with his own ring and the rings of the lords the stone that had been brought to block the opening of the den.

¹⁹ Then the king returned to his palace for the night; he refused to eat and he dismissed the entertainers. Since sleep was impossible for him, ²⁰ the king rose very early the next morning and hastened to the lions’ den. ²¹ As he drew near, he cried out to Daniel sorrowfully, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve so constantly been able to save you from the lions?” ²² Daniel answered the king: “O king, live forever! ²³ My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not hurt me. For I have been found innocent before him; neither have I done you any harm, O king!” ²⁴ This gave the king great joy. At his order Daniel was brought up from the den; he was found to be unharmed because he trusted in his God. ²⁵ The king then ordered the men who had accused Daniel, along with their children and their wives, to be cast into the lions’ den. Before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

²⁶ Then King Darius wrote to the nations and peoples of every language, wherever they dwell on the earth: “May your peace abound! ²⁷ I decree that throughout my royal domain the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared:

“For he is the living God, enduring forever,    

whose kingdom shall not be destroyed,    

whose dominion shall be without end,

²⁸ A savior and deliverer,    

working signs and wonders in heaven and on earth,    

who saved Daniel from the lions’ power.”

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 21:20-28

"Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles."

✠From the Gospel according to Luke

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. ²¹ Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, ²² for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. ²³ Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles^[a] are fulfilled.

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶ People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens^[b] will be shaken. ²⁷ And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

34 TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 21:20-28)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God calls on humanity to be vigilant against the temptations of Satan. For they will bring forth difficulties, trials, persecutions, mutual killing, and calamities such as plagues, floods, droughts.... They will seek every way to draw people closer to Satan, leading them away from the love and mercy of God the Father.

What Jesus Christ teaches in today's Word of God is that people should listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. For the Word of God forewarns humanity that when faced with difficulties and challenges, they should cling tightly to God the Father, live in submission to Him in all places and at all times, and you will overcome the snares, that is, the difficulties and trials, that Satan brings.

Through this, God the Father also instructs humanity to entrust everything into His hands, to hope for the life of the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter, believing that everything is under the mighty hand of God; by trusting and relying on Him, He will protect us from the captivity of Satan.

God the Father does not want people to worry or fear calamities, big waves and great storms, or the trials of this earthly life. Because God is the Almighty One, the Gracious One, He will preserve, shelter, and protect those who know how to completely trust and rely on God the Father.

Look up at God, the Most High, run to Him and pray in His holy name; He will come, He will bestow every blessing so that His children may have peace and happiness in their souls!

When facing difficulties and trials, people should not be afraid, should not worry, should not complain, or condemn, but instead they should live gently and humbly, should fear God, and should trust in His absolute power, for He is the Gracious Father, and He cannot bear to abandon any child who knows how to return to God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.