Readings: Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28, Daniel 3:40-45, Luke 21:12-19
“Then they brought in the golden and silver vessels which had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.” (Daniel 5:3)
A few weeks ago, we saw the disturbing viral video of a man who went into a Chapel of Perpetual Adoration and carted away the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament in it. This is not the first time something of this nature has happened. Many wonder why God would stay quiet and allow unscrupulous elements to desecrate items solely dedicated to His worship. Some have even questioned His Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament after watching that viral video.
In today’s first reading, we read the story of how King Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, together with his lords, wives, and concubines, drank wine with the golden and silver vessels which were taken from the house of God. Already, this very act was bad enough. Drinking wine with vessels dedicated to God is an act of grave disrespect for God.
However, they didn’t just drink; they went as far as praising their local gods. Daniel reports, “They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Immediately, the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the king’s palace wall opposite the lampstand, and the king saw the hand as it wrote.” (Daniel 5:4-5)
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Number 2120: “Sacrilege is profaning or treating the sacraments and other liturgical actions unworthily, as well as persons, things, or places consecrated to God.” This includes the church building, sacred vessels, linens, liturgical books, the crucifix, rosaries (and other sacramentals), and items such as the pulpit, chairs, and persons dedicated to God.
Belshazzar knew what those vessels were meant for, but he attempted to challenge God’s existence. This experience teaches us to avoid taking God for granted. The fact that God is silent does not mean He is weak. God is a merciful father; He is also a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 reads, “For our God is a consuming fire.” Deuteronomy 4:24 says, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Psalm 18:8 says, “Smoke rose from his nostrils, and consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.”
The fact that God allowed what we saw on that viral video to happen does not mean He is not present in the Blessed Sacrament. The same God who was silent when the Blessed Sacrament was stolen is the God who struck Uzzah for irreverently touching the Ark of the Covenant. 2 Samuel 6:6-7 says: “When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God.”
Let us examine our hearts: Do I respect sacred vessels, linens, books, and other items used for liturgical worship? Do I even treat the church as God’s house? A few days ago, we celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King. During the procession, as we passed in front of a church, I noticed some members of the church manifesting, even though they were not Catholics. The Archbishop, who was carrying the monstrance at this point, stopped to bless the church members; they knew God was passing.
However, we also saw another video of a young man who was obviously not dressed for worship coming out of his car during the Christ the King procession, and he seemed to draw the parishioners’ attention away from Jesus. We even saw a young man dressed like a priest running alongside him, as if he were some celebrity. We cannot help but wonder: Why have we become so familiar with God? Why have we turned to the worship of persons, money, power and fame?
Do we need God to strike us as He did to Belshazzar before we give Him the honour He deserves? In the case of Belshazzar, one can argue that he did not believe in God. He grew up to assume God was equal to the gods his father served. What do we say about our case? Aren’t we behaving worse than Judas Iscariot, who sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver after eating from the same plate with Him? A lack of respect for things dedicated to God is a lack of respect for Himself.
In our Gospel passage, Jesus teaches us that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. There would be some sacrifice for our faith; we may have to suffer many things, but as Jesus concludes, “By your endurance, you will gain your lives.” In moments of persecution, we are called to be faithful to our values and identity.
Don’t stop letting your light shine; this is not a time to take up arms to fight or kill non-Christians. This is not the time to convert to other religions in the hope of preserving your life. This is also not the time to stay at home for fear that you could be killed or kidnapped in the church, like the case of those Christians in Kwara State.
Jesus said, “Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” We have seen how many so-called men of God are struggling to say the truth for fear of offending those responsible for the current genocide against Christians. This is not a time for political correctness. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to guide our utterances.
For more than a decade, we have been witnessing a deliberate and calculated attack on Christians. This attack is mainly in the form of physical violence (kidnapping and killing of priests, bombing and burning of churches, massacre of Christians in the house of worship, etc.). Still, it also manifests as injustice, the government’s one-sided approach to dealing with issues, colluding with terrorists and the deliberate attempt to suppress and silence Christians. No one doubts the fact that many Muslims have lost their lives over the years in the process, but this fact does not negate the existence of an ongoing Christian genocide in the country.
Let us pray: Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O Lord, that, striving more eagerly to bring your divine work to fruitful completion, they may receive in greater measure the healing remedies your kindness bestows. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Wednesday of week 34 in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28, Daniel 3:40-45, Luke 21:12-19)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu