Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians. Daniel wanted to know how long it would be before Jerusalem would be restored so he prayed and fasted and wore sackcloth. Daniel reminded God of His faithfulness and confessed the sinfulness of the Hebrew people. Daniel knew that God kept His covenant with those who loved Him and kept His commandments. He understood that the destruction of Jerusalem was due to the disobedience of the Israelites, but he also knew that God was merciful and would forgive His people. We too need to listen to these words of Daniel and take heed that we follow the way of God, yet always remembering that God is merciful and forgiving.

The passage from Luke is from his version of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. Just as Daniel told the Israelites that God was merciful, so Jesus told the people that they were to follow God's example and be merciful to others. He told the people not to judge or condemn others but to forgive and to be generous to others. The lesson for all people is that we will be treated in the way in which we choose to treat others. It's really another way to express the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.