Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared,
writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace.
When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched;
his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked.
"This can't be good." Blake Shelton sings when he sees the sheriff's car approaching while the sheriff's drunken daughter dances atop Blake's car.
The drunken King Belshazzar thought the same thing when the fingers of a human hand appeared to write Hebrew letters on his plastered wall. "This can't be good."
The rule of the schoolyard applies here: I can't beat up my brother; you can't!
Despite all the sins of God's people, as we find them enumerated in the Old Testament, they remained confident that God would deliver them on Judgment Day. When times were especially bad and they knew they had invited this catastrophe by their own sins, they looked forward to deliverance and that final outcome with glee. If it was bad for them, it would be worse for their enemies.
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| Saint Bede Hall at Saint Meinrad Archabbey |
Christians who suffer for their faith and look forward to deliverance share that confident hope. Our God is the God of Heaven. His throne rests high above the chairs of this world's petty tyrants, presidents, prime ministers and kings. If they never look up to see him, they are nonetheless subject to his Day of Wrath.
During November the Church reflects upon death and judgment, heaven and hell. We don't want to be caught unawares by the near approach of Truth. Rather we pray to be guided each day by the blessed goodness of God. Generosity, courage, kindness, mercy and joy should guide our daily activity. That Spirit is our privilege and our pleasure, our comfort and delight.
Sing hymns to the LORD enthroned on Zion;
proclaim his deeds among the nations!
For the avenger of bloodshed remembers,
does not forget the cry of the afflicted. (Psalm 9:12-13)
proclaim his deeds among the nations!
For the avenger of bloodshed remembers,
does not forget the cry of the afflicted. (Psalm 9:12-13)
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.