34th Week in Ordinary Time

I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you.

One of the unbreakable rules of advertising is that in order to sell a product, you have to show attractive models enjoying it.   So a sports hero is photographed wearing the latest athletic shoe.   A slender, beautiful actress is shown drinking a diet soda.   Or a respected former politician becomes a spokesperson for a new drug.   The subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) message is “If you want to be successful like this person, then imitate them by using this product!”

Imagine you were asked to develop an advertising campaign to encourage people to stand fast in their faith.   You would be hard-pressed to find a better model than Daniel, the hero of today’s first reading (Daniel 5:14).

According to the story, Daniel, a young man from a royal family, was taken to Babylon when Jerusalem was sacked in the sixth century BC.   There he was pressed into service to King Nebuchadnezzar.   Surrounded by pagans, Daniel worked hard and took big risks to keep his Jewish traditions.   He refused to eat food that was considered impure, he refused to bow down to a false idol, and he continued to follow his religion despite several edicts banning Judaism.   And in each instance, no matter how much danger his faith put him in, Daniel came out on top.

Throughout all of his trials, Daniel is depicted as a humble, wise, and righteous man.   There is no stain on his character, unlike King David, who committed adultery, or King Solomon, who worshipped false gods.   From the day his stories were written, Daniel has stood as the best of the best, a hero’s hero, someone every eager young believer should aspire to be like.

We will never face a den of lions or a fiery furnace, but we do face cultural pressure to become like everyone else, even if it means denying our faith.   Daniel’s example reminds us that God will reward and protect us if we stay strong and hold fast to what we know is right and good.

“Lord, help me to stay strong in my faith like Daniel.   Give me Daniel’s courage and wisdom to follow you, no matter what.”

(Psalm) Daniel 3:62-67
Luke 21:12-19

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