Daniel – The Noontimes

Daniel 9:1-12: Ultimate Fulfillment

Daniel 9:1-12: Ultimate Fulfillment

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Written on January 9 and posted today as a favorite . . .

06devr.650[1] — *Tilda Swinton as Gabriel in “Constantine”*

What we see today is Daniel’s interaction with God’s messenger Gabriel who is mentioned here for the first time in scripture. We know that scripture is not history – it is not an accurate telling of events in a sequential manner in order to set facts in place; rather, it is an inspired record of our interactions with God over thousands of years. This is the gift of the Torah, prophets, and wisdom literature. It is the gift of the accounts of Jesus, the Apostles and the Holy Spirit as a manifestation of God among us.

In today’s Noontime, footnotes tell us that the Darius the Mede whom we see in this prophecy is “unknown in profane history. The Median kingdom had already been conquered by Cyrus the Persian, and it was Cyrus who captured Babylon. Evidently the author of Daniel has deliberately adopted an apocalyptic view of history, derived from prophecy . . . according to which the Medes form the second of four world kingdoms preceding the messianic times . . . The character of Darius the Mede has probably been modeled on that of the Persian King Darius the Great (522-486 B.C.), the second successor of Cyrus.” (Senior 1096)

Further commentary tells us that “the prophet Jeremiah (25,11; 29,10) prophesied a Babylonian captivity of seventy years, a round number signifying the complete passing away of the existing generation, Jeremiah’s prophesy was fulfilled in the capture of Babylon by Cyrus and the subsequent return of the Jews to Palestine. However, the author of Daniel, living during the persecution of Antiochus, sees the conditions of the exile still existing; therefore in his mediation he extends Jeremiah’s number to seventy weeks of years (v 24), i.e., seven times seventy years, to characterize the Jewish victory over the Seleucids as the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy.” (Senior 1100-1101)

What we see today is not a story about people or places we know in history. Nor is it a story about a particular time in our human record that has little to do with us in 2011. What we have before us is the story of how we – like Daniel – might interact with God’s messenger and with God himself. It is the story about the ultimate fulfillment of prophecy. It is the story of how God visits us constantly, how God interacts with us, and how God always keeps his promises.

When we flag or lose faith, when we are exhausted from the effort of our journey, when we are at the point of feeling that our exile will never end, we might – like Daniel – turn to God, acknowledge our humanity, and enter into a dialog with the divine. For it is through our trials, when we drop our defenses against God’s presence in our lives, that we are most intimate with God. And it is through our anguish and suffering that we encounter our divinity within. This is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises to us – to live freely and wholly in the Spirit.

A re-post from August 9, 2011.

Image from: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2005/02/06/arts/06devr_CA0ready.html

Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.1096,1100-1101. Print.

August 30, 2025

Babylonian Captivity, Cyrus, Daniel, encountering divinity, finding God, Gabriel, prophets, Torah, wisdom literature

Daniel 1: Wisdom and Prudence

Daniel 1: Wisdom and Prudence

Friday, September 23, 2022

In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.

Just like the Chaldeans, we marvel at the wisdom and prudence coming from one who lives in God. These holy ones are able to bring light to darkness, reason to insanity, tranquility to the turbulent spirit. We might do well to imitate those who walk with God. These four men, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, are more free in their captivity than their captors are in their freedom for what they possess is a pearl of great price. They know that we are all children of God.

From MAGNIFICAT:

You chose the lowly of this world to bring salvation to all nations: grant your people the wisdom to seek your love rather than worldly honor.

You chose the faithful to bring forth the fruit of your promise: strengthen us in fidelity amid the uncertainties of our day.

You chose the unexpected to bring forth the gift of life: grant us freedom of spirit to rejoice in your work in every circumstance.

For those who are enslaved by poverty and oppression: send people of wisdom and generosity to discover ways to set them free.

For those who are enslaved by prejudice and fear: send people of courage and self-forgetfulness to keep them out of the darkness.

For those who are enslaved by addictions, recognized and unrecognized: send people enlightened by their own struggles to guide them along right paths.

If we are in the darkness yet see the light, we must take up Christ as our courage to move into that light, and we must try to bring our sisters and brothers with us. If we rise from our suffering, we must turn to others who suffer to likewise bring them out of the darkness and into God’s marvelous hands.

Image from: http://www.prudencetrue.com/january2010.html

Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Morning.” MAGNIFICAT. 9.9 (2008). Print.

A reflection from September 9, 2008.

September 23, 2022

Azariah, Daniel, freedom, Hananiah, Mishael, pearl of great price, prudence, wisdom

Daniel 10:12: Visions

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Daniel 10:12

Visions

Fear not. From the first day you made up your mind to acquire understanding and humble yourself before God, your prayer was heard.

The prophecy of Daniel is full of metaphor, symbolism and mystery and yet it is in this prophecy that we see the coming of the Son of Man predicted. (Daniel 7:13 and 8:17) Today we reprise the mysterious vision that presages so much fear and so much hope.

God says: I see that you are determined to follow me and this brings me joy. I also see the pitfalls and obstacles in your way and this brings me sorrow. I abide with you as always. I accompany you through fire, pain and death. I raise you up when you are fallen. I restore you when are spent. I rescue you when fire consumes you. Did I not save my servant Daniel? Are you not as important as he? Read this story of Daniel and humble yourself as Daniel does. Trust in me as this young man does. Acquire knowledge of me as this young prophet does for you are destined to be as significant as any prophet of mine in the days of old. Each of you is precious in my eyes. Each of you has the potential to prophesy for me. Each of you is welcome to take refuge in the limitless safety of my most sacred heart. When you shelter with me your smallness expands to the boundless horizons of my mind. When you remain in me your fears and anxieties become the sinews of my protective arms. When you act in me your tears and sorrows dissolve into mists that nourish the dry nights of the soul. Read about Daniel’s visions today, bring me requests, and give yourself hope for many tomorrows. Know that I hear every prayer you utter in the turmoil of the day, in the shadows of night, in the company for friends or in the solitary stillness of your heart.

To further explore the visions of Daniel, enter his name in the blog search bar and choose another reflection.

Image from: http://impactwithprayer.blogspot.com/2011/04/god-hears-our-prayers.html

October 27, 2020

Daniel, fear and hope, humility, prayer, prophecy, sorrow and joy, understanding

Acts 13:44-52: Address to the Gentiles

Acts 13:44-52: Address to the Gentiles

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Yesterday we reflected on Paul’s Summary story of God’s constancy in his love for his people. God keeps his promises. God has good things in mind for his creation. God loves us more than we can imagine.

We first spent time with this portion of Acts on May 29, 2008 and we revisit that reflection today as a Favorite . . .

Because many of those Paul addressed in the synagogue refused to hear the story of Jesus, Paul took his message to the gentile nations. Many have ears but do not hear, eyes but do not see. I am thinking about how we humans form community . . . and how we also create obstacles to the formation of community. We conjure up sides, form alliances, close ranks and lock steps to keep out those who do not comply. We have the choice in this life to follow Mean Girl Queens and Playground Bullies which ultimately means that we must succumb to threats and insinuations. We also have the option to stand on Gospel Values . . . which means that we must work to become constant disciples of Jesus. And it also means that we must put down our old familiar weapons of separation to take up the arms of unity and peace.

The prophecy of Daniel and the story of Esther are worth remembering because they are where we learn that . . . the faithful need not fight, they only need to refuse to comply with anything which causes them to abandon their God. This is the same message that Jesus brings to us; this is how the kingdom becomes universal. This is how the Spirit abides and how the Gospel message spreads – through conflict resolved, through obstacles overcome, through pain endured, through reparations made and forgiveness granted. Where do we go for solace and comfort when we must squeeze ourselves through these Narrow Gate Experiences? How do we mature spiritually? How do we find and maintain the serenity we say we seek? Paul tells this in Pisidia who will hear him, and he tells us today . . .

When we suffer for Christ, we know that we have been chosen . . . we also know that we are loved.

When we live in the Spirit, we know that we live in God . . . and we also know that we live in love.

When we call on God, we know that we are heard . . . and we also know that we are rescued.

I am looking at the morning prayers and petitions from MAGNIFICAT.

The eyes of the Lord are upon those who love him; he is their mighty shield and strong support, a shelter from the heat, a shade from the noonday sun, a guard against stumbling, a help against falling. (Sirach 34:16)

You are a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in distress; shelter from the rain, shade from the heat. (Isaiah 25:4)

With confidence in the God who hears our prayers and protects us, let us pray: To our words give ear, O Lord.

You shield us from harm: teach us to protect goodness in ourselves and in others. To our words give ear, O Lord.

You guard us against stumbling and help us against falling: strengthen our reliance on you in every temptation. To our words give ear, O Lord.

You are the shelter of all those who are in need: make us a shelter to all who call upon our help. To our words give ear, O Lord.

O God of glory, you are our shelter against the burning heat of the day and the storms of life. Help us when we stumble, catch us when we fall, and guide our steps firmly in faith toward the promise of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A re-post from January 8, 2012.

Images from: http://www.davincisartandcoffee.com/Metal/cross/Heart/default.asp and http://northwaystudents.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/wide-gate-vs-narrow-gate/

Cameron, Peter John. “Prayer for the Morning.” MAGNIFICAT. 29.5 (2008): 392-393. Print.

For a reflection on the Book of Daniel on this blog at: https://thenoontimes.com/the-book-of-our-life/daniel-god-calls-the-faithful-and-faithless/

For thoughts on Esther see: https://thenoontimes.com/the-book-of-our-life/esther-from-calamity-to-rejoicing/

January 8, 2019

Daniel, Esther, God’s promises, Jesus, Narrow Gate, Paul, Pisidia, the faithful

Tag: Daniel

Daniel 9:1-12: Ultimate Fulfillment

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Daniel 1: Wisdom and Prudence

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Daniel 10:12: Visions

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Acts 13:44-52: Address to the Gentiles

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