“… I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking…” — Luke 21:15

       When I was a fulltime worker for my Catholic community, I used to speak to different crowds — to young people, married couples, even to little kids. Usually I’d speak in English, but there were many times that I’d have to speak in Bahasa Melayu or Tetum (a language spoken in Timor Leste, where my family and I used to be based).

       I’m not a fulltime worker anymore and I don’t give talks as often as I used to. I am blessed, though, because I still get invited to speak at events, usually at parenting seminars or special seminars for women. It’s even more challenging to speak to people of different backgrounds, and not necessarily of the same faith. I often find myself praying and preparing for each talk with great care, because I believe that every speaking opportunity is a chance for me to glorify God. Thank God for His wisdom that sees me through every talk!

       So if ever you find yourself at a loss for words when you’ve been tasked to speak about something — especially about God — don’t fear! He will give you the words you need! Tina Santiago-Rodriguez (tina@trulyrichmom.com)

Reflection: Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary. — Anonymous

Lord, grant me the wisdom I need to speak of Your love and grace to those who need to hear it the most.

St. Columban, pray for us.

The king favored Daniel because of his power to interpret dreams. He served in a place of honor. Daniel was not afraid to speak the truth even though the message would disturb the king. This is a lesson for us to never compromise the Gospel. Failing to tell the truth will not help anyone. If someone needs to repent of his sins, then that is the message he needs to hear. Let us never water down the message of the Gospel.

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

1 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, with whom he drank. 2 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. 3 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 4 wine from them, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. 5 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, 6 his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked. 13 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? 14 I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you, that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom. 16 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.” 17 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. 23 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. 24 By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down. 25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, TEKEL, and PERES. These words mean: 26 MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it; 27 TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; 28 PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67

R: Give glory and eternal praise to him.

39 [Dan 3:62] “Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 40 [Dan 3:63] “Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 41[Dan 3:64] “Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 42 [Dan 3:65] “All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 43 [Dan 3:66] “Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 44 [Dan 3:67] “Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R)

Jesus told His Apostles that they will be persecuted. He wanted them to choose whether to follow Him or not. We should always tell the truth, as truth alone that can set us free. To lie to someone is always a disservice. Creating false expectations or cultivating imperfect understanding of the Gospel and the will of God is never going to help bring the Gospel to those who have not heard it.

Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

12 Jesus said to the crowd: “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. 13 It will lead to your giving testimony. 14 Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, 15 for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. 16 You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. 19 By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

think: Let us never water down the message of the Gospel.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Baruch4-6

THE TRAP OF IMAGINED IMMORTALITY

A son went to his father and asked, “When is the best time to pray?” The father responded,” The best time to pray is when the end of your life is near.” The son protested, “But no one knows when the end is going to be!” The father continued, “That’s my point. Since no one knows the end, the best time to pray is every day.”

       King Belshazzar succeeded his father, Nebuchadnezzar. We find him today drunk, figuratively and literally, in the perks of the kingship. Bored with the usual manner of partying with his cohorts, he ordered, in his drunken frenzy, that the sacred vessels that his father had taken from the temple of Jerusalem be brought out, so that he and his guests could drink wine in them. Suddenly, a writing on the wall appeared, tracing the words MENE, TEKEL and PERES.

       Terrified, the king called for Daniel to reveal the meaning of the words. The interpretation was chilling. 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.

       Since biblical times, irresponsibility has been the child of imagined immortality. King Belshazzar thought his kingdom would be forever. And so, instead of dispensing his kingly power to empower his subjects and bring them to knowledge of the true God, he used the throne as a personal playground.

       When we forget that there is an end to everything, we become lazy and prone to loose living. Conversely, when we remember that everything under the sun is given to us on borrowed time, we become more attentive, caring and responsible.

       What is to deliver us from this trap of imagined immortality? The wisdom of St. Bonaventure is an invaluable guide. He  said, “To lead a good life, man should imagine himself always at the hour of death.” Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you treat everything, everyone and every moment with conscious preciousness?

Let me treasure every moment, O Lord, for I shall pass this world only once. Amen.