Reflection for Wednesday of the 5th
Week of Lent
(Dan 3:14-20, 24-25,28; Jn 8:31-42)
The Burning Fiery Furnace
The description of the furnace was apt. That
was the tool with which Nebuchadnezzar threatened the faith of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego. His boost had no human equal. “But if you do not worship,
you shall be immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace; and who is the
god that will deliver you out of my hands?” This pride is in everyone who
thinks the life of somebody is in his hands! The three young men gave the king
the shock of his life and would not compromise their faith. Not just that, to
the King’s embarrassment they added, “But if not, be it known to you, O king,
that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set
up.” A worship that is forced is false!
What does it look like to profess such a faith
in the presence of a giant idol, a burning fiery furnace and a proud king? It
is like Jesus in the garden foreseeing His passion. True faith feels the heat
of persecution but remains firm. God sent His Angel to deliver the three young
men. The furnace burnt in vain, the king was humble, and idol remained lifeless
without recognition as the kingdom acknowledged the God of Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego!
“The Truth will
make you Free”
As the debate about the origin and identity of
Jesus continued among the Jews, Jesus addressed those that believe in Him
saying, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will
know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” We all want to live free.
But if our freedom in the hands of another person, can we be truly free? So the
Jews disagreed immediately that they are descendants of Abraham and cannot have
their freedom in the hands of anyone, which would imply being in bondage.
Freedom is elusive. We easily misuse and abuse
it. But God gave man freedom so that he can render true worship. Thus, freedom
is a spiritual reality, which we be enjoyed only when we in truth. False life
or sinful life, will take away our freedom. Hence Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly,
I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not
continue in the house forever; the son continues forever. So if the Son sets
you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus is the Truth (Jn 14:6), and as such,
He is the custodian of our freedom. The Jews were obsessed with the fact that
they are descendants of Abraham, and idolized their origin.
As Nebuchadnezzar did to the three young men,
the Jews persecuted Jesus for standing firm on the truth that He is the Son of
God and the one in whom we are free. There are so many idols in our world today
to demand our time and allegiance. There are different ideologies that call for
followership. And we have leaders who claim that our freedom is safe in their
hands, etc. If the words of Jesus become the energy within our hearts, we will
remain firm in His truth, and then He will set us free from any kind of fiery burning furnace in our life.
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Monday, March 30th, 2020.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that you are really here in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you more than anything in the world, and I hunger to feed on your flesh. But since I cannot receive Communion at this moment, feed my soul at least spiritually. I unite myself to you now as I do when I actually receive you. Never let me drift away from you. Amen.
----St Alphonsus Liguori
