do you want the light?
“Give, and it shall be given to you.” —Luke 6:38
The context of today’s first reading is Jeremiah’s prophecy that the exile from Jerusalem would last seventy years (Dn 9:2; Jer 25:11). Daniel “tried to understand” this prophecy (Dn 9:2), knowing he could give to his people the strength and encouragement to hold on to their faith even under the worst conditions. Likewise, if we only understood more parts of the Bible, we could set people free, heal the sick, reconcile enemies, and transform lives. How can we understand God’s Word more deeply?
The Lord helped Daniel understand His Word by calling Daniel to: earnest prayer (Dn 9:3), fasting (Dn 9:3), and sackcloth, ashes, and the confession of both his sins and those of his people (Dn 9:3-5, 20).
Daniel’s prayer, fasting, and repentance were answered. The Lord sent the archangel Gabriel to reveal the meaning of the Scriptures to Daniel (Dn 9:21).
How committed are you to understanding the Scriptures? Will you pray, fast, and repent? Or will you only make a halfhearted effort to understand God’s Word, and then blame God’s Word for not speaking to the circumstances of your life? Do you love people enough to give them only the best, that is, the truth and light of God’s Word? If you truly want to understand much more of God’s Word, you can. Receive God’s Word “not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God at work within you who believe” (1 Thes 2:13).
Prayer: Father, this Lent may Your Word be more precious to me than thousands of dollars (see Ps 119:72).
Promise: “Yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!” —Dn 9:9
Praise: When tempted to feel guilty about confessed sins, Sylvia recites a verse from her favorite psalm: “Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame” (Ps 34:6).
Reference:
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 27, 2025"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.