Reading I Dn 1:1-6, 8-20
In the third year of the reign of
Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came
and laid siege to Jerusalem.
The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim,
king of Judah,
and some of the vessels of the temple of
God;
he carried them off to the land of
Shinar,
and placed the vessels in the temple
treasury of his god.
The king told Ashpenaz, his chief
chamberlain,
to bring in some of the children of
Israel of royal blood
and of the nobility, young men without
any defect,
handsome, intelligent and wise,
quick to learn, and prudent in judgment,
such as could take their place in the
king’s palace;
they were to be taught the language and
literature of the Chaldeans;
after three years’ training they were to
enter the king’s service.
The king allotted them a daily portion
of food and wine
from the royal table.
Among these were men of Judah: Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.
But Daniel was resolved not to defile
himself
with the king’s food or wine;
so he begged the chief chamberlain to
spare him this defilement.
Though God had given Daniel the favor
and sympathy
of the chief chamberlain, he
nevertheless said to Daniel,
“I am afraid of my lord the king;
it is he who allotted your food and
drink.
If he sees that you look wretched
by comparison with the other young men
of your age,
you will endanger my life with the
king.”
Then Daniel said to the steward whom the
chief chamberlain
had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
“Please test your servants for ten days.
Give us vegetables to eat and water to
drink.
Then see how we look in comparison with
the other young men
who eat from the royal table,
and treat your servants according to
what you see.”
He acceded to this request, and tested
them for ten days;
after ten days they looked healthier and
better fed
than any of the young men who ate from
the royal table.
So the steward continued to take away
the food and wine they were to receive,
and gave them vegetables.
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.
At the end of the time the king had
specified for their preparation,
the chief chamberlain brought them
before Nebuchadnezzar.
When the king had spoken with all of
them,
none was found equal to Daniel,
Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah;
and so they entered the king’s service.
In any question of wisdom or prudence
which the king put to them,
he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and enchanters in
his kingdom.
Responsorial Psalm Daniel
3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R.
(52b) Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our
fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious
name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the temple of your
holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your
Kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you who look into the
depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the firmament of
heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
R.
Glory and praise for ever!
Alleluia Mt 24:42a, 44
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man
will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 21:1-4
When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy
people
putting their offerings into the
treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in
two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the
rest;
for those others have all made offerings
from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered
her whole livelihood.”