November 28, 2003, Tuesday of the 34th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of the prophet Daniel.

Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar,

In your vision, O' King, you saw a statue, very large and exceedingly bright,

terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.

The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs bronze,

the legs iron, its feet partly iron and partly tile.

While you looked at the statue, a stone which was ewn from a mountain without a hand

being put to it, struck its iron and tile feet, breaking them in pieces. The iron, tile, bronze, silver,

and gold all crumbled at once, fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in summer, and the wind blew

them away without leaving a trace. But the stoneaff on the threshing floor in summer, and the wind blew them away without

leaving a trace.

But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

This was the dream.

The interpretation we shall also give in the king's presence.

You, O King, are the King of Kings.

To you the God of Heaven has given dominion and strength, power and glory.

Men, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell, he has handed over to you,

making you ruler over them all.

You are the head of gold.

Another kingdom shall take your place inferior to yours,

then a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over the whole earth.

...