"King Belshazzar gave a great banquet" (Dn 5:1). At this banquet, a hand wrote on the wall. This hand was not part of a body, but was just floating in space. Tomorrow, most of us in the United States will also have a banquet: Thanksgiving dinner. Very likely there will be "handwriting on the wall." For instance, after conversing with your brother-in-law, it's obvious he doesn't know the Lord loves him. Everyone can see your granddaughter's marriage is in trouble, or that Uncle Harry has a drinking problem.
When the handwriting's on the wall, we often either deny it or become anxious and depressed. For example, King Belshazzar's "face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked" (Dn 5:6). Yet, the Lord doesn't want us overwhelmed by reality, but to face it with faith. We should commit ourselves to praying daily for those whom the Lord has brought to our attention (see 1 Jn 5:16). We should also be open about the problems we observe. We must "profess the truth in love" (Eph 4:15). Most of all, we should speak freely of our love for Jesus. Our focus should not be on our opinions or others' problems, but on Jesus' love.
If by faith we do something about the "handwriting on the wall," the hand will erase its first message and write two more words: "JESUS SAVES."
| PRAYER: | Father, remove apathy, complacency, and spiritual paralysis from my life. |
| PROMISE: | "By patient endurance you will save your lives." –Lk 21:19 |
| PRAISE: | Blessed Miguel Pro died as a martyr, proclaiming Jesus by crying out, "Viva Cristo Rey!" |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College