Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": Nov. 25

Find 10 connections with today?
Legend below

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Read

Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 At King Belshazzar's banquet, fingers appear and write on the wall. Terrified, the king asks Daniel to interpret: “You rebelled against the Lord. God sent the hand to write mene, tekel, peres: God has put an end to your kingdom; you've been found wanting; and your kingdom has been given to the Medes and Persians.

Dn 3:62-67 "Give glory and eternal praise to him." Sun, moon, stars, showers, winds, fire, heat, cold, and chill, bless the Lord!

Lk 21:12-19 “They'll persecute you and hand you over because of me, leading to your giving testimony. I'll give you wisdom nobody can refute. All will hate you, but by perseverance you'll be safe.”

Reflect

Creighton: "I myself will give you wisdom in speaking": If relationship with God is central to me, the right words will come when I need them. The king and his companions had forgotten the sacred; they used the God-given temple vessels for a party though they were intended to remind the people to look to God.

One Bread, One Body: "Sober up": Tomorrow people will celebrate Thanksgiving Day with food and alcohol; some gatherings will be like King Belshazzar's party. The king's life ended that night; he had no more time to repent and undo the damage he caused. The Church's Eucharist (Thanksgiving) also features holy vessels, wine, celebration, feasting, and the death of the host. May we be under the influence of the Holy Spirit, not a substance and give thanks the Church's way.

Passionist: Today Jesus develops the theme (from Monday's gospel) of generosity without counting the cost: he speaks of the Messiah's and disciples' sufferings: Don't worry; the words you need will be given to you. Endure and be saved. Enter into life; don't escape it. Enter into suffering and find freedom. “A life without meaning is not a life. To live we must choose. To love we must encounter. To grow we must suffer” (holocaust survivor Victor Frankel). Reach into your mind and heart to find patience, kindness, and generosity, and encounter God.

DailyScripture.net: "Not a hair of your head will perish": Jesus warns his followers they'll be confronted with wickedness, false teaching, persecution, and temptation to renounce their faith. Jesus' response to hostility and persecution is love, forbearance, and forgiveness. He tells us we needn't fear our opponents. Endurance never gives up hope in God. Patience looks beyond present difficulties to the reward of perseverance. Endurance is a gift of the Spirit to enable us to bear trials. "When persecution comes, God's soldiers are put to the test, and heaven is open to martyrs. We haven't enlisted in an army to think of peace and decline battle, for we see the Lord has taken first place in the conflict" (Cyprian). Martyrs live and die as witnesses of the Gospel, overcoming their enemies through hope, courage, love, forbearance, kindness, goodness, and compassion. Most of us are called to be 'dry' martyrs bearing testimony to the gospel in our daily lives. May our love, joy, patience, forgiveness, and compassion give good witness....

Dress legend

Gold- and silver-colored accoutrements: King ordered gold and silver vessels brought in, promises gold to Daniel if he interprets the writing (1st reading)

'Hand' tie pin: Fingers of a hand wrote on king's wall (1st reading); they'll 'hand' you over (gospel)

'Owl' tie pin: King heard Daniel has extraordinary wisdom (1st reading); I'll give you wisdom (gospel)

Purple shirt: King promises purple clothing to Daniel if he interprets the writing on the wall (1st reading)

'Scales' tie: 'Tekel,' you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting (1st reading)

Special greetings to and prayers for the community at
St. Catherine of Alexandria parish in Avalon

Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"