Wednesday Fifth Week of Lent

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 24, 2010
First Reading: Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95;
Responsorial Psalm: 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21 ;
Gospel:  Jn 8:12-20 ;

And here's an audio file and a video of a priest offering reflections.

First Reading:  Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 ;
King Nebuchadnezzar said:
“Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
that you will not serve my god,
or worship the golden statue that I set up?
Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made,
whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet,
flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe,
and all the other musical instruments;
otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace;
and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar,
“There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you
in this matter.
If our God, whom we serve,
can save us from the white-hot furnace
and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
But even if he will not, know, O king,
that we will not serve your god
or worship the golden statue that you set up.”
King Nebuchadnezzar’s face became livid with utter rage
against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
and had some of the strongest men in his army
bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
and cast them into the white-hot furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles,
“Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?”
“Assuredly, O king,” they answered.
“But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.”
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed,
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him;
they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies
rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God.”


Responsorial Psalm  Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56;
R.         Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”
R.         Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R.         Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.         Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim;
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.         Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
R.         Glory and praise for ever!

Gospel   Jn 8:31-42
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him,
“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham
and have never been enslaved to anyone.
How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not remain in a household forever,
but a son always remains.
So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.
I know that you are descendants of Abraham.
But you are trying to kill me,
because my word has no room among you.
I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence;
then do what you have heard from the Father.”
They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children,
you would be doing the works of Abraham.
But now you are trying to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God;
Abraham did not do this.
You are doing the works of your father!”
So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication.
We have one Father, God.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,
for I came from God and am here;
I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”

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Commentary:  How I love the story of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Huh? Yeah, those are the men's names, which were changed to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were taken captive and sent to Babylon as slaves after the Kingdom of Israel was squashed following a period when they fell apart, not only from each other - but they also fell out of their relationship with God. God did not stop loving them, as we see in the story - but the people fell out of love with their God. And soon after, they fell apart amongst themselves and the 12 Kingdoms of Israel were divided. (here's a link to an old song about this fiery furnace story).

As I recall this story, and also a good bit of text in the Old Testament - so much of ye Olde, is steeped in anger, retribution and hate. There is song called The River of Babylon, which recalls the period of time, and also this sentiment of resentment and anger. The original song - is psalm 137. When I was younger, my first introduction to the song was on vinyl from a band called The Melodians. Later on, the song was re-recorded by Jimmy Cliff, Boney M and many others. Here's the Melodians version, on vinyl.



If you listen to the song, and open up the words of the original, psalm 137 - yikes, you can see what I mean. This is one angry song on many levels. It is also a very tender song on other levels. Such is the world of the Old Testament, and the old covenant - where the letter of the law rules.

Jesus comes on the scene, and turns everything upside down. He gives the world a New Covenant, not just the chosen people as described in the Old Testament, it is for all God's children. What is important is not the letter of the law, but the intent of the heart toward the law and love we share, not only with God but with each other too. He turns it all upside down - Love your enemies and pray for them. (wow, this is some powerful medicine too, with healing power beyond the realm of healthcare reform hahaha). Jesus' advice is spelled out in Gospels, and the upside down nature is made clear in The Beatitudes, and the world of intent of the heart being the new law in the New Covenant.

Let me end this yammering (sorry, a little self deprecation and laughter is a good thing)... with one line from today's Gospel.

you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

The truth hurts, or the truth will set you free. If the truth is the truth, it never changes. The only difference on whether the truth will hurt, or whether the truth will set you free - is a person's reaction to the truth. If you are already mostly free, remember that your greatest talent is the capacity to love, and that this talent is a gift from God. Use it with reckless abandon and live a life beyond your wildest dreams. If you are struggling with the guilt of sinfulness (and we all are in some capacity) and caught in a prison of stress and torment, don't blame others - but see it in a new way. Change. In your crisis, You have been blessed with a huge opportunity to love, and to grow in faith. Ask God for help, how He loves such prayers - just ask, help me to love You perfectly God, and to love your children like You do. And go dancing in the fire.

And another song for the day. SDG - soli dei gloria. (if you hate it, blame me. if you like it, SDG - which is Latin for: all glory to God alone).