Bible
Study: Daniel 7, 2 to 14. And Luke 21, 29
to 33.
In our
first reading today, Daniel narrates the contents of his dreams; the visions of
the night:
As I
looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his
raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne
was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and
came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand
times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books
were opened. I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the
horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body destroyed
and given over to be burned with fire.
As for the
rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged
for a season and a time. I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the
clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient
of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory
and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his
dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom
one that shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7, 9 to 14.
When we
look closely at this passage, we would discover that bulk of our imagery of God
comes from this very vision of Daniel. When we think of God, we consider God to
be masculine (based on Daniel’s use of the masculine pronoun), we see him as
one who is very old (ancient of days), with very long beards (his raiment was
white as snow), with some sort of scary demeanour (his throne was fiery flames)
and with lots and lots of angels and saints serving him (thousand thousands served
him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him).
The other
aspect of the vision corresponds perfectly with an image of Jesus Christ. He is
the “one who came like a son of man.” Jesus himself in the course of his
earthly life referred to himself son of man again and again. “And to him was
given dominion… his dominion is and everlasting dominion… one that shall not be
destroyed.” In speaking about Jesus, St. Paul confirms: “Therefore God has
highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.” Philippians 2, 9 to 11.
God is a
king that can never be destroyed. He is greater than anything we can ever
imagine or think of. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the
one who made us and sustains our life. Let us renew our faith and confidence in
him every day casting off our fear of evil spirits, as we know, no one is
greater than God.
Let us
Pray:
Lord
Jesus, increase my love and devotion to you every day and may I serve you as my
king and Lord with my very life. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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