Standing Firm Before the Son of Man

In today’s first reading, Daniel is shaken to the core by a terrifying vision—four beasts rising from the earth, representing kingdoms filled with violence, arrogance, and oppression. Among them, the fourth beast is the most frightening: powerful, crushing everything in its path, and waging war against the “holy ones of the Most High.” It appears evil triumphs, and God’s people are defeated. But then everything changes: the Ancient One arrives, judgment is given, and the kingdom is handed over to the holy ones. Evil does not have the last word; God does. The faithful inherit a kingdom that will never pass away. This is the message Daniel desperately needed and the message we need today. Like Daniel, we sometimes look at the world and feel overwhelmed. Nations in turmoil, violence on the streets, families in crisis, hearts weighed down by anxiety or discouragement. It can feel as though the “beasts” of our time—fear, sin, injustice, confusion—are winning. But Daniel’s vision reminds us: God’s kingdom is not fragile. God’s victory is not uncertain. And God’s people are not forgotten. This promise is fulfilled in the One Jesus calls the Son of Man—a mysterious title He uses for Himself more than any other. It carries two meanings: humble humanity and divine authority. Jesus uses it to speak both of His suffering and His glory. He is the Son of Man who walks the path of weakness, and He is the Son of Man who will come again in majesty. The one who was judged by earthly powers will ultimately judge the earth itself. This is why Jesus warns us in the Gospel: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy… Be vigilant at all times.” The danger is not simply external persecution but internal sleepiness—a heart dulled by distraction, pleasure-seeking, or daily anxieties. The beasts outside cannot destroy us, but a drowsy heart can. The trap Jesus warns about is the trap of being spiritually unprepared, living as though God’s kingdom were not near and His coming not real. So, Jesus gives us the antidote: sobriety and prayer. • Sobriety—the discipline of remaining focused, grounded, and free from the illusions that cloud our judgment. • Prayer—the constant turning of the heart toward God, the posture that keeps us awake, watchful, and rooted in hope. This is how we “stand before the Son of Man.” Not in fear, but in readiness. Not in anxiety, but in trust. Not trembling before the beasts, but confident in the God who judges them. Daniel reminds us that the kingdoms of this world rise and fall, but God’s kingdom endures forever. Jesus urges us not to sleep through our discipleship but to live everyday alert, prayerful, faithful, and expectant. The Son of Man is not a threat but a promise—God’s assurance that darkness will not win, truth will not die, and the faithful will inherit a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us ask today for hearts that remain awake, for courage to stand firm, and for the grace to live as people who already belong to the kingdom that lasts forever. May we be found ready, steadfast, and hopeful watching not for beasts, but for the coming of our Lord.