Earthly power in all its forms can seem overwhelming and impossible to resist. Who are we to stand against economic, political, and religious forces? We can feel helpless indeed. But Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream tells another story. Despite how mighty these forces seemed, their days were numbered. They did not practice justice and compassion; in fact, often they were cruel and oppressive. All powers that are not in harmony with the will of God will be brought down by God in the end. It is the will of God that the peoples of the earth be ruled with justice and mercy and that society bears witness to equality and compassion. Against these forces nothing can stand.

When has there not been the signs foretold by Jesus? Earthquakes, wars, and confusion are always with us and probably always will be. But Jesus was not predicting the future - he was warning people not to be always in a panic and not to be misled by the fear and emotions of others. Even today there are many that are always in an uproar about end-time signs and prophecies. This is a useless activity. The disciples were marvelling at the beauty of the temple, but Jesus warned them not to cling to things, structures, or institutions. The Lord's presence is always within us - we needn't run anywhere else to find him. The Lord comes to us daily in many ways - let us always run to greet him.