Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Opportunity For Witnessing
Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
The message of hope of the previous days continues in today’s readings. The Syrian king oppressed the Jews and declared himself “Epiphanes,” that is, “God become visible”; God will soon judge him, and his kingdom will come to an end. He appears here disguised, under the name Belshazzar. On the other hand, the persecuted Christians will bear witness to God and to his Son, Jesus Christ, by their fidelity.
Our baptism has made us witnesses of Christ. However, it is not always an easy path, especially during times of great change, and this is even more true for missionaries. Difficulties will come from those closest to us. But we may rest assured that Christ is with us and that through his Spirit, he will make us eloquent and give us the wisdom of what to say and do. Do not be afraid! This may be easier said than done.
Opening Prayer
God our Father,
we believe that your plans for us
are for peace and courage, and not for fear.
Keep us open-eyed to the signs
of the constant coming of Jesus your Son.
Help us to commit ourselves untiringly
to the growth of your kingdom among us
by carrying out your plans for peace and love
and for all that makes our world more
your world and the way to your home.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords,
with whom he drank.
Under the influence of the wine,
he ordered the gold and silver vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar, his father,
had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,
to be brought in so that the king, his lords,
his wives and his entertainers might drink from them.
When the gold and silver vessels
taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in,
and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers
were drinking wine from them,
they praised their gods of gold and silver,
bronze and iron, wood and stone.
Suddenly, opposite the lampstand,
the fingers of a human hand appeared,
writing on the plaster of the wall in the king's palace.
When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched;
his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook,
and his knees knocked.
Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king.
The king asked him, "Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile,
whom my father, the king, brought from Judah?
I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you,
that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom.
I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties;
if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means,
you shall be clothed in purple,
wear a gold collar about your neck,
and be third in the government of the kingdom."
Daniel answered the king:
"You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else;
but the writing I will read for you, O king,
and tell you what it means.
You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven.
You had the vessels of his temple brought before you,
so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers,
might drink wine from them;
and you praised the gods of silver and gold,
bronze and iron, wood and stone,
that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence.
But the God in whose hand is your life breath
and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify.
By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down.
"This is the writing that was inscribed:
MENE, TEKEL, and PERES.
These words mean:
MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it;
TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;
PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians."
Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"All you winds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
"Cold and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever."
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
And I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be handed over to synagogues and prisons, and for my sake, you will be brought before kings and governors.
This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
So keep this in mind: don’t worry in advance about what to say,
because I will provide you with words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
But even though, because of my name, you will be hated by everyone.
But not a hair of your head will perish.
By your patient endurance, you will save your souls.
Prayers of the Faithful
– For the Church, that free from all paralyzing fears it may have the courage born of faith to bear witness to the demands of the gospel, we pray:
– For the leaders of the Church, that in our difficult times they may not be men and women of fear but of trust in God, we pray:
– For the prophets in our midst, sent by God to wake us up from our complacency, that we may not muzzle them but heed their call for conversion, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
accept this bread and this wine
as signs that we are committed
to build up your kingdom in our world.
May our attitudes and decisions in life
be those of Jesus, your Son:
to seek your dawn of love and service
rather than self-destructive selfishness,
to be constructive and creative
in giving shape to a new earth
rather than to be critical of the past.
May we thus fully encounter you one day
in the joys of a new heaven.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God,
your Son Jesus destroyed our death by dying
and by rising he restored our life.
By the strength of this eucharist
May we and the whole of humanity
grow up in Christ day after day
through the pains and tensions of all growth.
But keep alive in us the joy of a firm hope
that your dawn of justice is coming
to make us and all things new
and that Jesus will return
to make us share in his glory
for good and for ever.
Blessing
Do not fear. We are in God’s hands. Trust in God. And let his Spirit live and speak and act in us, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
26 November 2025
Luke 21:12-19
Perseverance in the midst of trials
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues His discourse about the signs of the times. He speaks frankly of persecution, betrayal, and suffering. Yet His message is not one of fear, but of courage and trust.
Jesus tells His disciples that following Him will bring trials — even from those closest to them. “You will be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.” These words might sound harsh, but they come with a deeper assurance: “Not a hair of your head will be lost.” What seems like a contradiction is, in fact, the mystery of faith — that even in suffering, God’s hand never lets go of us.
Persecution, Jesus says, will be our opportunity to bear witness. When faith costs us something — when speaking the truth isolates us, or when choosing compassion over convenience becomes difficult — that is precisely when our witness shines brightest. It is in the darkness that light becomes visible.
Jesus also promises His presence in our trials: “I myself shall give you a mouth and wisdom.” We are not left alone to defend ourselves. The Spirit of God speaks through our words and sustains us when human strength fails.
To the early Christians who faced imprisonment and death, these words were a lifeline of hope. And they remain so for us today. The trials we face may not be as dramatic, but they test our perseverance just the same — the slow endurance of faith in a world that often forgets God.
“By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” This is the heart of Christian discipleship: to keep trusting, loving, and hoping — even when the world trembles — knowing that Christ has already conquered.
Outgrowing Fear
What is the most repeated, persistent command from God in the Scriptures? I guess it is the command not to worry! Every time Yahweh or an angel of the Lord appears to a human being, his first words are “Do not be afraid.” Post-resurrection, these words get converted into a more positive assurance: “Peace be with you.” Almost every human act of evil emerges from deep-seated fear. In today’s Gospel, speaking of the persecutions that await his disciples, Jesus tells them not to worry, but to trust in him. For a soul that has trusted herself into the hands of God, nothing can be a tragedy. Jesus himself has set the example before us, by commending his spirit into his Father’s hands, from the cross. The one who can so let oneself fall in trust will find the law of gravity annulled and oneself being held in God’s palms.
27 November 2024
Faith Through Fire - in the Face of Trials
In today’s Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for impending difficulties. He outlines thechallenges they will encounter—false messiahs, wars, disasters, and persecution. Thoughthese words were spoken centuries ago, they still hold significance today, providing us withguidance and encouragement. The faithful have frequently endured trials, yet Jesus assures us that these struggles should not be feared; instead, they offer us chances to testify to God’s love and truth.
Jesus tells His followers, “They will seize you and persecute you... but this will be your opportunity to bear witness.” Here, Jesus shifts our focus from fear to purpose. He reminds us that even in adversity, we are given the chance to live out our faith with courage and to become beacons of hope. When we lean on God, He promises to give us the wisdom and strength to speak with conviction and love, even in the most challenging times.
This passage speaks to anyone who has felt the cost of discipleship. Family or friends may misunderstand or even oppose our faith, but Jesus reassures us that nothing can separate us from His care: “Not a hair of your head will be lost.” Even in persecution, God’s protection and presence remain. He calls us to perseverance, teaching us that in steadfast faith, we will find true life.
Today, let us reflect on these words of Jesus as a source of hope. Life’s trials, no matter how daunting, are “birth pangs”—not signs of death but of life and renewal in Christ. With our eyes fixed on God, let us embrace each challenge with faith, confident that our struggles bear witness to a love that overcomes all.