One of my favorite prayers in scripture and the Liturgy of the Hours is the Canticle of Daniel which is prayed on Sunday, as part of Morning Prayer, for Week I and III. Each year, the Canticle is used as the Responsorial Psalm and verses from the book of Daniel are proclaimed as the First Reading at Mass for this final week of the liturgical year (the new year begins with Advent, next Sunday). I am always disappointed because following Thanksgiving and before Advent, it seems our priests take a (well-deserved) break or we don’t have a regular schedule of daily Masses. Fortunately in my area there are several different churches that will have a morning Mass so there is always a church to attend or a Mass to watch live-streamed. The beautiful scripture passages used are of Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, his own vision of the glory of God, and the recitation of the Canticle by the three young men thrown in the fiery furnace because they would not worship the golden image created by the king. Daniel helps us to deeply consider our lives and the choices we make as we bring our year to a close and consider what we might like to focus on or how we want to grow closer to God during Advent.

The scriptures offer us an opportunity to pause and reflect on what is most important in our lives, what “golden images” we place our attention on, and how we serve God in our lives. The Sunday gospel (Matthew 25: 31-46) for Solemnity of Christ the King, asks us to consider whether we will be seen as the sheep or the goats, based on how we cared for other people. (GOAT – not Greatest Of All Times! Thanks to Mary DeTurris Poust, writer and retreat leader, for this reminder in her Give Us This Day reflection.) Did we see and welcome Christ in the other? (The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 53) Do we pause to appreciate the gifts we have been given, in our talents, or in the world around us?

Here are a few verses of the Canticle:

Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.

Take time this week and open your Bible (or Google it!) to the Canticle of Daniel, Daniel 3:57-88. It’s a beautiful song of praise to God, creator and King of all. I can’t think of a better way to begin each day, then by taking a moment to praise God for all the gifts we have been blessed with, despite the challenges in our lives.

As we prepare to bring this liturgical year to a close, consider whether the things you give attention to each day reflect your priorities and values. How do they reflect your faith?

Wishing you abundant love and peace, Deena

Image from my PicMonkey account