King Belshazzar and his party companions were terrified but attentive to the words of God delivered in a sensational manner by the hand mysteriously writing on the wall (Dn 5:5ff). The king was consumed by curiosity to know the meaning of the message sent by God. The Lord has also written many other words by hands He has sent to earth. These hands wrote the words of God on scrolls, and became the books of the Bible. These words, however, were written in a more "ordinary" manner, even though there is a sensational character of human authors hearing the Word of God and faithfully transmitting it.

There will be parties in the next month, just like King Belshazzar's. In some of these parties, Bibles will be present in family book shelves. These Bibles sit quietly against the walls of the houses, and lack the obvious sensationalism of a hand writing on a wall. Nonetheless, the words written by human hands on the pages of those Bibles were sent directly from God.

Allow the Lord to consume you with the same curiosity and desire of those in King Belshazzar's party to know the meaning of the words sent by God. Unlike Belshazzar, however, don't be caught unprepared by the power of God's Word. "Stay sober and alert" (1 Pt 5:8), and receive the Word of God in humility, thanksgiving, and obedience.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 12, 2017

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