Brothers and sisters, today’s readings are intense. We have lions, armies surrounding Jerusalem, and the powers of heaven shaking. It brings...
Brothers and sisters, today’s readings are intense. We have lions, armies surrounding Jerusalem, and the powers of heaven shaking. It brings to mind three words: Danger, Deliverance, and Day.
First, Danger. Life is full of "lions' dens." For Daniel, the danger was literal lions because he refused to stop praying. For the disciples in the Gospel, the danger was the Roman army. For us, the "lions" might be financial debt that threatens to swallow us, a medical diagnosis that terrifies us, or a temptation that tries to tear our families apart. The Gospel even speaks of people "dying of fright." Fear is a very real reaction to the dangers of this world.
But that leads us to Deliverance. Notice what Daniel did when he was thrown into the pit. He didn't fight the lions; he trusted God. And the King found him the next morning without a scratch because "he trusted in his God." The King realized that the God of Daniel is the "Living God." Deliverance didn't mean Daniel avoided the den; it meant God was with him in the den. God may not always stop the storm, but He will hold your hand through it.
Finally, the Day. Jesus tells us that when we see the world shaking, "Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." This is the Day of the Lord. For those who do not know God, the end is a disaster. But for us? It is a graduation! It is a homecoming! Jesus tells us not to curl up in fear, but to stand up in hope.
So, whatever lion's den you are in today, do not panic. Do not compromise your faith. Trust in the God who shuts the mouths of lions. When the world seems to be falling apart, that is the exact moment God is coming to put it back together. Stand tall. Your deliverance is near.
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