In the 1st reading we see these 3 men who resisted the king's
command, They knew the truth that there is only one God whom we should be
faithful to even to the point of sacrificing power, fame, fortune and their
very lives. They are so admirable in their courage. They were in the prime of
their life and with a bright future ahead of them in the king's palace but did not
even consider this. Nor did it make them falter in their conviction and firm
stand. They did not fear death and gladly accepted it in testimony of their
unwavering faith in God. Indeed this bible verse from Matthew resonates really
well in their conviction and firm stand on their faith, "What profit would
there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one
give in exchange for his life?" Our freedom consists in only obeying God
not in inventing our own gods and laws.
These 3 men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) said they don't have to
answer the king. They didn't even acknowledge the king's question as valid when
they said they need not answer his question. One of the things we have to
understand is that during that time kings make it illegal for the Jews to
practice their religion. Just imagine if it's illegal to go to mass and be
arrested if we were to go to mass and profess our Catholic faith. Would we find
the freedom or courage not to acknowledge the law that would be forced upon us?
When our Jewish brothers and sister can't practice their faith we should notice
when they said "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
which you set up.” They stated that even if God doesn't they would still do the
right thing and sacrifice their lives so the people would know that even if
they're not rescued they obeyed God. This is a kind of foreshadowing of Good
Friday. When Jesus said, "Thy will be done" He was obedient unto
death on the cross. Because of this, God highly exalted Him that every knee
will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Take note of these 3 men in the
flames according to what the king said “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.” In the gospel Jesus stated "I came from God and am here; I did
not come on my own, but he sent me.” The Father sent Jesus Christ even from the
beginning of human history to rescue and save us. Just as stated in today’s 1st
reading, the 4th one walking with them in the flames. We have to realize that
when we're ready to sacrifice ourselves to obey God, surely He is with us. As
in the song, "Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Blessed are we if we walk amidst the
burning flames of these trials and persecution of the people around us. The
ridicule, when we live our Catholic faith, is all around us. We need to know
that we are free when we abide by our faith and the Church. We need to have
this kind of freedom that these 3 young men have. They are not bound by fear
because they are depending on Almighty God. Every time we hear stories of how
people were able to escape unharmed from a sure death experience, we wonder how
it all happened. This triggers our minds to think of countless possibilities
and rational explanations in trying to figure it out. But how in the world can
we explain such an event in today's 1st reading wherein Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego when thrown in the furnace to be burned alive came out unfettered and
unhurt. This only leads us to the one obvious truth that our God is faithful to
those who are loyal and obedient to Him even in times of great trial and
distress. He sends His mighty angels to guard, defend and protect us from all
kinds of harm and even came Himself in the fullness of time to save us. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Daniel 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 that 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 which 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. King 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 that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and
yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own
God.”
We should never ran out of reasons to always praise and
thank God for He never leaves us empty handed since everything is linked and
works wonderfully well for those who stay connected most especially when the
going gets really tough and the rough gets on going for we have a dependable
God who comes up with more and more blessings and angels sent to us for our
welfare. The same God who saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego is the same God
who continues to lift us up from our miseries for He is a God for all ages. There
is a need for us let go and avoid too much attachment to the things that the
world offers and learn the art of fasting and abstinence which not only in the
form of food and could be in any other things. A little sacrifice goes a long
way with God and can truly rid ourselves of the hindrances and obstacles that
keep us from truly giving glory and praise to God. Amen. Hallelujah!
P S A L M
Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R: Glory and praise for ever!
29 [Dan 3:52] “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...“Blessed are you who look
into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted
above all forever.”...Nowadays, we can no longer see or feel the presence of God like they used to experience during the time of Moses. Or see angels to the rescue coming down from heaven to minister to God's people. The reason it is so, is because Jesus already came to this world. We sometimes long to see marvelous signs and wonders happening before our very eyes. Things that we could only imagine like the presence of mighty angels ascending and descending from heaven with lightning and thunder flashing from all sides and much like the things that we can only see in the movies or some sort of miracle like the death defying stunt in today's 1st reading. We should realize that if the reality of the only begotten and beloved Son of God came to this world became man, lived among us, suffered and died for our sake could not move us to such great awe and amazement for God's extraordinary act of love for man then nothing else could. Nothing and no one else could be as great as this truth of Jesus who is God with us. Once we are truly in touch with this reality then we are no longer bound to anything in this world and absolutely free. It's quite obvious that the men in today's gospel who claims Abraham as their father is confused because they claim to do one thing and yet do another. Our actions should be a clear statement of what we believe in. Let us clear our minds of things that are not in accordance and does not conform to the legacy handed down to us by our forefathers and put into action the truth that Jesus himself testified to. Let us fully orient ourselves to the real inheritance given to us so that we can consciously and rightfully identify ourselves as sons and daughters of God our Father. There is really nowhere to go, no one else to believe in, remain in forever and truly be a follower of, for the rest of our lives other than Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah!
John 8:31-42
31 Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, “If
you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free.”... 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.
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