Twenty-One Days

The Story

Daniel was an old man now, still living in exile. He had received a troubling vision about a great conflict, and he set himself to understand it. For three full weeks he mourned. He ate no pleasant food, no meat, and drank no wine.

On the twenty-fourth day of the month, Daniel was standing by the great river Tigris when he looked up and saw a man dressed in linen, with a face like lightning and eyes like lamps of fire. The men with Daniel didn’t see the vision, but they were seized with terror and ran away to hide.

Daniel’s strength drained out of him, and he fell face down in a deep sleep. Then a hand touched him and set him trembling on his hands and knees.

“O Daniel, a man greatly beloved,” the messenger said. “Fear not.” From the very first day you set your heart to understand and humble yourself before God, your words were heard. I have come because of your words.

Then he explained the delay. “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days.” Michael, one of the chief princes, had come to help him.

Reflection