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The BreadCast


Daily Exposition of the Readings for Catholic Mass...

as well as Prayers to the Saints on the General Roman Calendar (for the U.S.).  

From the books Our Daily Bread and Prayers to the Saints by James H. Kurt - both with imprimatur.

Nov 26, 2023

(Dn.1:1-6,8-20;   Dn.3:52-56;   Lk.21:1-4) 

“To these four young men God gave knowledge

and proficiency in all literature and science,

and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams.”

God is the giver of all good gifts; all is a gift from God.  Whatever we give to Him can only seem paltry to Him “who look[s] into the depths from [His] throne upon the cherubim.”  But He makes any gift we give, anything we do, great by His heavenly grace.

All our offerings are as the widow’s – but a couple of copper coins – even if we give vast wealth from our surplus.  What is anything we offer in the sight of God, who owns the world and all that is in it, who sits “in the firmament of heaven”?  So the size matters not.  But when we give our paltry gift with a heart of faith, in answer to the love He gives us, how great our gift then becomes.  For this He blesses.  This He looks upon with favor.  This He sees as He glances up; for it is the heart He looks upon and measures.  It cannot but be that the widow gave her offering out of love, out of her deep faith in God.  How could one become bereft of all riches if one did not believe in Him who surpasses all?

And is it not Daniel and the young men’s faith which God does bless with His gifts of wisdom and prudence?  Because “Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food or wine” sacrificed to his pagan gods, God first blesses him and his companions with exceptional health.  Though they eat food that is poor as the widow’s offering, yet “they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table” – again, because all gifts, including that of health, are in God’s hands and not in the things themselves.  And God’s gift of knowledge and understanding is a reward for their faith in Him as well; they give themselves to Him in obedience and He who holds all such light of wisdom in “the temple of [His] holy glory,” who is “exalted above all forever” – which the young men readily recognize – grants them His favors by His grace.

What gift have we to give?  What paltry sum have we to offer?  Let it be as the two fish the boy offered in faith and generosity to the Lord (Jn.6:9), and with it He will feed five thousand.  Let it be as the two coins jangling in the widow’s pocket, and with it He will build a home for you in heaven.  Let it be given in the faith of the four young men and God will bless it and reveal Himself at work in you.

*******

O LORD, you provide, you take care…

let us not be afraid

but give ourselves entirely to your service.

YHWH, praiseworthy and exalted are you, glorious above all for all ages.  And those who trust in you are truly blessed; you give them wealth and health – all wisdom comes from you.  And though we may have but two copper coins, if we offer them to you, you will provide all we need in this world, and bring us to the riches of Heaven.

O let us be raised up with you, dear God!  Let us join you on high where you dwell in glory.  To your Temple let us come and before your throne let us bow.  If so humbly we worship you, you shall sit us beside you.

Let us be in your service this day, our hearts set on doing your will alone, and we shall be blessed even before kings, even before the Son of Man.  O LORD, help us to give all we have to you.