A Faith That Does Not Tremble

Today’s readings confront us with the sober truth that faithfulness to God will always be tested. In the first reading, King Belshazzar throws a lavish feast, displaying a heart drunk with pride. He desecrates the sacred vessels of the Jerusalem Temple, turning what is holy into objects of mockery. But in the midst of his arrogance, a mysterious hand appears and writes judgment on the wall: Mene, Tekel, Peres. You have been weighed and found wanting. The king’s power, pleasure, and pomp collapse in an instant. His kingdom, which seemed unshakeable, is handed over to another. Belshazzar represents what happens when a life is built on pride, self-indulgence, and the illusion of control. He refused to recognize God as the true Lord of history. And when confronted with divine truth, he trembled. His fear reveals the fragility of a life grounded in self rather than in God. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the persecution and trials that will come. But unlike Belshazzar, the disciples are not told to tremble. Instead, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid… By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” While the powers of the world may rise against them—betrayal, hatred, suffering—Jesus promises that not a single hair on their heads will be lost outside the Father’s care. The world may write threats upon their walls, but God writes salvation upon their souls. The contrast is striking: • Belshazzar trembles before God’s truth because he lived in defiance of it. • Disciples stand firm before the world’s threats because they live anchored in God. This is the faith Jesus invites us into—a faith that does not tremble when storms rise, because its foundation is not pride or success or security but God Himself. Perseverance is not passive endurance. It is the courage to remain faithful when it is easier to compromise, to trust God when circumstances shake us, to continue loving when love is tested, to speak truth gently when silence feels safer. In a world where kingdoms rise and fall, where fear can easily govern hearts, Jesus calls us to a deeper grounding: “Stand firm… I myself shall give you a wisdom.” What we lack, He will supply. What we fear, He will confront with us. What we suffer, He will redeem. Today, let us pray for a faith that does not tremble. A faith that remains steadfast when confronted by the world’s pressures. A faith that keeps our hearts from being “weighed and found wanting” because they rest fully in God. And may the peace of Christ steady us, so that whatever hand writes upon the walls of our lives, we may stand firm, trusting that God has the final word.