Daniel 7: 15-27; Canticle from Daniel 3; Luke 21: 34-36
Grim times. Daniel is so disturbed by his vision he asks “an attendant” for an interpretation. Daniel, the interpreter of dreams and visions? Jesus warns us not to let our hearts be heavy with dissipation and worries (Lk 24 on the road to Emmaus: “Oh you dull of heart!”). “Be alert,” Jesus insists. So let us turn to Daniel’s prayer, the Benedicite, from the opening of each phrase: Bless the Lord. All creatures all week have been called on to bless the Lord. Today we conclude with all peoples blessing God. To bless is to hand over all that one is. God lavishes on us all that God is (Romans 8) and we are invited to bless or surrender all that we are to God. Mutual self-giving. That is another meaning of Eucharist.
What does “dissipation” mean to you? Does worry enhance or dissipate your prayer? Do worries make you more alert or less to God’s care for you? God lavishes good on us. Does God really want us to surrender our worries, irritations, faults? What will you put on the paten tonight or tomorrow?
Don’t let us fly apart, God of wholeness. Keep us one, inside our own hearts, within our families and communities. Help us stay alert to our neighbors in need.