Daniel 12:1 “When that time comes, Mikha’el, the great prince who champions your people, will stand up; and there will be a time of distress unparalleled between the time they became a nation and that moment. At that time, your people will be delivered, everyone whose name is found written in the book. 2 Many of those sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and abhorrence. 3 But those who can discern will shine like the brightness of heaven’s dome, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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I can remember as a boy many things that scared me. As I have grown older now, there are still things that scare me--albeit most are different things than when I was a boy. Truth be told, we all have things that scare us. We all have moments when being scared has the potential to bind us and hold it over us. The words of Daniel 12 come to us from a community in anguish and scared of the things happening around them. The great apocalyptic visions of heroic princes and names written in the book served to comfort the people in the midst of their being scared. God has not forsaken them; in fact, God continues to fight for them and on the final day, when the trumpet sounds, God will indeed raise them from the dead with their lights shining like the bright sky and shining stars.
That goes for you and me too. In the midst of our scary (and scariest!) moments of life, God remains ever present with us allowing nothing, not even death, to extinguish the everlasting light that shines from our baptisms. That is the hope we claim and boldly live, even when we are scared.
Ever present God, we thank you for your presence among us, even when we are scared. Remind us in the scary moments of life that you shine in our darkness, and that nothing will be able to extinguish our lights that rest in your promise. Amen.
Scott McAnally
Lead Pastor, Lutheran Church of Hope Broomfield, Colo.
Master of Divinity, 2004
Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.
2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. [New Revised Standard Version]
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