Our first reading from the book of Daniel today takes place
two generations after our reading yesterday.
The king of Babylon Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, was
throwing a banquet for his friends. In the midst of their revelry, a mysterious
hand appeared and began writing on the wall.
None of the king’s wise men or astrologers were able to explain what was
happening. The young faithful Jewish
prophet, Daniel, who had been taken captive and brought to Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar, now an old faithful Jewish prophet, was sent for to decipher
the mysterious writing.
Think of Daniel’s tremendous moral courage. Not only had all of the cultural supports of
his faith been stripped away, he had been living in exile for two
generations. He is summoned into this
blasphemous situation by a bloodthirsty king, and he speaks the word of God in
truth. Here is the mark of true
holiness: he is able to show up, to tell
the truth without blame or judgment, and to be open to the outcome.
St. Catherine of Alexandria, who we honor today, was another
soul of great moral courage. At the age of 18, she debated 50 pagan philosophers.
Amazed at her wisdom and debating skills, they became Christians. She was imprisoned for her faith for
over fifty years by the emperor. Yet while imprisoned she converted the
empress, the leader of the armed forces, over 200 soldiers, and other members
of the emperor’s family. She is
venerated as a patron saint of philosophers, preachers, and young unmarried
woman: 3 categories of persons who need to practice moral courage.
Many of us will take part in a “great banquet” tomorrow, at
Thanksgiving dinner. The situation may
not be as treacherous or lecherous as Belshazzar’s table, yet it may be a table
where the Faith is ridiculed, where you are “put to trial”. In today’s Gospel, Jesus suggests that every
Christian must be prepared to stand with moral courage in his name. Now hopefully, Thanksgiving dinner will be
much more like Jesus’ banquet than Belshazzar’s—much more selfless love, humble
service, praise of God, and harmony, rather than drunkenness, betrayal, pride,
and blasphemy. Yet no matter the
situation, the Christian, sustained and nourished by the bread from heaven, becomes
and instrument of God by speaking and acting with truth and moral courage and
love, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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