April 13, 2011
Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
By Colleen O’Sullivan
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.” (Daniel 3:91-92, 95)
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. (John 8:31-36)
Piety
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.
(Daniel 3:52)
Study
Often in the Gospels we find Jesus talking to people who don’t seem to have a clue about what he’s telling them. Sometimes it’s the disciples. Other times it’s the Pharisees. Today it’s a group of Jews who supposedly believe in Jesus. Our Lord makes them the most wonderful promise – “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.” Do they jump for joy? No. Instead, they protest that they have never been enslaved to anyone. How ironic that God in Christ is standing directly in their midst, but they are so tightly shackled to their rigid, false beliefs that they can’t see him for who he is or see themselves as they truly are – sinners in need of a Savior!
I’m not sure that much has changed over the centuries. Jesus makes the same offer to you and me today. If we are faithful to him, we, too, can know the truth and be set free. Just as those Jews in the Gospel reading couldn’t see themselves as they really were, we, too, are often deluded about who we are. We say we are believers, but at the same time we are enslaved to gods other than the Christ - to the opinions of others, to our desires for fashionable clothes, nice homes, expensive entertainment, and wealth, among other things.
It would be wonderful to have the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that they worship a golden statue which he had commissioned. These three young Jews knew who their God was and where their loyalties lay. Even at the cost of their lives, they refused to worship any other god. Because of their unwavering trust in God, God sent an angel to rescue them from the flames of Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace. They knew the truth and they were literally set free.
Action
Take some quiet time today to reflect on what some of the false gods in your life might be. There’s still time in Lent to give them up and fill in the gaps with faith in the Lord.
