Day 1 (Monday)
Daniel 4:1-37 (Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream, is Humiliated, Repents, and Gives Glory to God)
Over the final week of Great Lent and Holy Week, we read from the book of Daniel about the great image that Nebuchadnezzar set up in Babylon, and how the Three Holy Youths, Daniel’s friends, refused to bow down and worship it, and were thus thrown into the fiery furnace, where the Lord Himself came and delivered them. This was the second great sign that Nebuchadnezzar had been given by God (the first being the dream that Daniel interpreted for him, about the image with the head of gold that was destroyed by the Rock not cut out by human hands). We will see here, however, that he has not learned the lesson, and remains unchanged and proud.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
4 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that live throughout the earth: May you have abundant prosperity! 2 The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to recount.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his sovereignty is from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living at ease in my home and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that frightened me; my fantasies in bed and the visions of my head terrified me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, in order that they might tell me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not tell me its interpretation.
8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream: 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Hear the dream that I saw; tell me its interpretation.
10 Upon my bed this is what I saw;
there was a tree at the center of the earth,
and its height was great.
11 The tree grew great and strong,
its top reached to heaven,
and it was visible to the ends of the whole earth.
12 Its foliage was beautiful,
its fruit abundant,
and it provided food for all.
The animals of the field found shade under it,
the birds of the air nested in its branches,
and from it all living beings were fed.
13 “I continued looking, in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and there was a holy watcher, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud and said:
‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches,
strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit.
Let the animals flee from beneath it
and the birds from its branches.
15 But leave its stump and roots in the ground,
with a band of iron and bronze,
in the tender grass of the field.
Let him be bathed with the dew of heaven,
and let his lot be with the animals of the field
in the grass of the earth.
16 Let his mind be changed from that of a human,
and let the mind of an animal be given to him.
And let seven times pass over him.
17 The sentence is rendered by decree of the watchers,
the decision is given by order of the holy ones,
in order that all who live may know
that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of mortals;
he gives it to whom he will
and sets over it the lowliest of human beings.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are unable to tell me the interpretation. You are able, however, for you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.”
Daniel Interprets the Second Dream
19 Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was severely distressed for a while. His thoughts terrified him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or the interpretation terrify you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, so that its top reached to heaven and was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and which provided food for all, under which animals of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air had nests— 22 it is you, O king!”
“You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has increased and reaches to heaven, and your sovereignty to the ends of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a holy watcher coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; and let him be bathed with the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him’— 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:”
“25 You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, you shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and gives it to whom he will. 26 As it was commanded to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be re-established for you from the time that you learn that Heaven is sovereign. 27 Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king said, “Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you! 32 You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails became like birds’ claws.
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
34 When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me.
I blessed the Most High,
and praised and honored the one who lives forever.
For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does what he wills with the host of heaven
and the inhabitants of the earth.
There is no one who can stay his hand
or say to him, “What are you doing?”
36 At that time my reason returned to me; and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my lords sought me out, I was re-established over my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven,
for all his works are truth,
and his ways are justice;
and he is able to bring low
those who walk in pride.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out how clearly this shows God’s way of dealing with us, even with the great and the proud. Nebuchaznezzar is first given signs that the Lord is alone the great and most-high God, in Daniel alone being able to interpret his first dream, and then in the deliverance of the Three Youths in the furnace. When he does not change, he is given this explicit warning, and Daniel’s final words in interpretation are to urge the king to repentance. He is given twelve months more, but when he does not repent, however, his blessings and protection are stripped from him, and he is left with only his animal desires. But when he comes to himself, and gives glory to God, he is immediately restored. This is, if we pay attention to it, basically the same story as that of the Prodigal Son.”
2) What do we learn about God in this reading?
3) What do we learn about human beings in this reading?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Fourth & Fifth Prayers at Orthros
There are twelve prayers that the Priest prays at the beginning of the Orthros service. In all of them, he prays for himself and for all the people, and gives thanks to God for the rest of sleep and for the opportunity to wake up and offer worship and thanksgiving and prayers to God. It is important to understand that the Orthros service is the service that the Church does at sunrise; it begins when it is still dark, and continues as the sun comes up. These twelve prayers, then, reflect what we can and should think and feel and say to God as we wake up and begin our day. These two prayers talks about rising from our beds and moving directly into thanksgiving and worship, seeking help, strength, blessing and understanding from the Lord in Whom we live, and move, and have our being.
FOURTH PRAYER
Master and God, holy and beyond understanding, who said: Let light shine out of darkness, who have given us rest by the sleep of the night and raised us up to glorify and implore your loving kindness; entreated by your own compassion, accept us who now worship you and give you thanks in the measure of our power, and grant us all our requests that are for salvation.
Declare us to be children of light and of the day, and heirs of your eternal blessings. Remember also, Lord, in the greatness of your compassion all your people, those present with us and who pray with us, and all our brethren by land and sea and in every place of your dominion who ask for your love for humankind and your help; and give to all your great mercy.
So that, always kept safe in soul and body, we may glorify with boldness your wondrous and blessed name, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
FIFTH PRAYER
Treasury of blessings, ever-flowing Source, Holy Father, worker of wonders, all-powerful and almighty, we all worship you and beseech you, as we invoke your acts of mercy and compassion to help and assist our lowliness. Remember your suppliants, Lord; accept the morning prayers of us all like incense before you, and make none of us reprobate, but keep us all through your acts of compassion. Remember, Lord, those who keep vigil and who chant to your glory and that of your Son, our God, and of your Holy Spirit. Be their help and their aid; accept their supplications on your heavenly and spiritual altar.
For you are our God and to you we give glory, to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out how these prayers are grounded in the reality of human beings waking from sleep and anticipating the light of the rising sun. That natural yearning is then directed in prayer toward the Lord, Who is the true source of light in the darkness, of life in the face of death, and forgiveness and purification to all who labor in this present world. Thus we thank the Lord for the rising of the sun, and look beyond the sun in the sky to Him, the Sun of Righteousness. This makes these prayers an active remedy to the errors of paganism in general, in which the created things are honored and worshipped instead of the Creator, and a remedy to our particular temptations and struggles in particular, as we rise from sleep and direct our hearts and minds and lives toward the Lord.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 3 (Friday)
John 21:1-14 (Purpose of this Book, Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples)
Last time we saw Jesus appear to the Disciples after His Resurrection, and breathe upon them, and give them the Holy Spirit. We also saw that Thomas was not with them at this time, and questioned the truth of their experience when they told him about it. He insisted that he would not believe until he verified with his own hands that the Lord was truly risen in the flesh, and so, a week later, the Lord came to them all, and insisted that Thomas verify exactly as he had said. Thomas then confessed Jesus to be “My Lord and my God,” and the Lord praised those who believe in Him on the basis the witness of Thomas and the others. This time, we will see another occasion that the Lord revealed Himself to His disciples.
Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out how this encounter with the Lord mirrors the first time that the Lord met many of these disciples, and especially Peter, and how John gives this story as a confirmation of that calling of the Disciples to become Fishers of Men (even though that story doesn’t appear in the Gospel of John). This is another occasion when John includes stories that connect to the accounts of the other Evangelists. The Leader should also point out that the statement that this was the “third time” that Jesus appeared to His disciples may be a reference to the frequent demand by the Pharisees earlier in the book to receive a sign, or to hear the Lord’s authenticity affirmed by “two or three witnesses.” At this point, the Lord’s own works have indeed become witnesses to His Resurrection, His Divinity, and His glory.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?