Today’s first reading recounts how Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah, were among those captured and taken into exile. They were among the youths chosen to serve in the king’s palace. They refused to be defiled by eating and drinking the king’s food and wine. They believed in divine providence - that God will take care of his own. After feeding on vegetables for 10 days, they were better in appearance than all the other youths who ate the king’s supposedly rich food. They were ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in the whole of Babylon. In the gospel, the poor widow too believed in divine providence; that is why she gave all she had to live on. God always takes care of his own. Let us like Daniel and his companions, and the poor widow rely on God’s divine providence.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, grant me a childlike trust to always believe in your divine providence and your care for me. Amen