Daily Catholic Lectio
Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Wednesday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28. Luke 21:12-19
Life’s warnings!
A young man was driving his new Ferrari car along the countryside. All of a sudden, he heard the voice of a woman yelling out, “Pig!” He lowered his windows and shouted back, ‘You are a pig.’ In a few seconds, he hit a pig on the road and sparked his car. The woman’s voice came as a warning, but the young man took that warning to mean scorn.
Life’s warnings are always around us. Those who are alert to the warnings and prepare themselves escape the dangers, but those who are not alert are affected badly.
The first and the gospel readings contain the warnings of life.
In the first reading, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon enjoys a dinner with his household. The vessels that were stolen from the Temple of Jerusalem were used to serve drinks at the dinner. A man’s hand appears and writes on the wall. God warns Nebuchadnezzar, saying that he weighed low on the scale. He was insufficient in the eyes of God.
The gospel reading contains positive warnings from Jesus about being prepared for the end of times. The disciples will encounter two problems: (a) Agony of being brought before the governors; (b) Denial and betrayal by the family – choosing Jesus will cause a division in the family of disciples.
Jesus further gives two consolations: (a) God will grant them wisdom and speech; and (b) They must persevere. Trust in the providence of God is the foundation.
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church, reflecting on the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, says, “Hope keeps human persons from discouragement; it sustains them during times of abandonment” (cf. n. 1818).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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