Reflection: The fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the wall of the king's palace...

The writing is on the wall.

Have you ever wondered where this expression comes from? It comes from today's First Reading from Chapter 5 of the Book of the Prophet Daniel. King Belshazzar held a great banquet. He used the gold and silver vessels which his father had taken from the house of God. The king, his lords, his wives and entertainers were drinking wine from the vessels and praising their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. The banquet was an orgy.

"Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the the wall of the king's palace." Daniel 5:5

My pastor spoke of this scene at Mass this morning. When things are unraveling and spinning out of control, as we see in our world today in so many ways, God will say, "Enough!"

God will intervene.

In the Book of Daniel, the human hand, writing on the wall was God. The king was terrified when he saw the hand. He knew about the prophet Daniel and promised him many things if he would interpret the words the hand wrote. Daniel told the king he did not want his gifts but he would interpret the writing.

MENE God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.
TEKEL You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
PERES Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

Daniel said to the king: "You rebelled against the Lord in heaven...But the God in whose hand is your very breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify. By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down." Daniel 5:23

We see so much unraveling in our world...terrorism, hatred, violence, war, assaults on the family and on marriage and the sacred gift of life.

Be not afraid. God will intervene. He simply wants us to trust in Him, to be patient, to persevere in prayer and spread His love through good works and deeds of mercy.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

Don't depend on yourself. Cry out to God. Run from evil. Receive the Eucharist daily or as often as you can. Run to the Sacrament of Reconciliation where you will receive Mercy and healing. Stop into an adoration chapel or commit to a regular hour of Eucharistic Adoration, a special date between you and Jesus. Entrust yourself to Our Lady. Put God first in your life. Check yourself by God's Word. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Rest in God's love.