FREEDOM OF FAITH

Meditation for Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

(Dan 3:14-20, 24-25, 28; Jn 8:31-42)

King Nebuchadnezzar was angry. His anger was so fierce that he had to take the most drastic measure to punish Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for refusing to worship the golden image. Notice that the King wanted these young men to worship the god he made by himself. Think about what it means to worship a god that is under the authority of man, ‘the work of human hands’ (cf. Is 2:8; Ps 115:4). From the depth of his pride, the King ordered that the fire should be made seven times hotter, and that the three young men should be thrown into it.

The man of faith, who abandons himself to the will of God and hopes in Him in all situations of his life, will always have to step on the fierce fire lit by self-worship, pride and arrogance of those who have no such divine encounter, and from those who do not accept the audacity of faith in the face of life challenges. The fire was still burning, and fiercely so, when King Nebuchadnezzar saw the men he bound and threw into the fire walking freely. He was astonished, and rose in a haste; looking closely he saw a fourth person keeping them company in the midst of the blazing fire. He realized that God had sent His angel to save the three young men. God’s saving power is stronger and fiercer than the blazing fire of hatred, pride, jealousy, sickness, poverty. That is why He did not first quench the fire before liberating the young men, for the freedom of the Children of God in Christ Jesus is far above the shackles that try to hold them down and the earthly fires that try to melt them away.

 

Hence, Jesus says in the gospel of today, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” So, in Jesus we have true and lasting freedom; a freedom that goes beyond boarders and touches those in prison, the broken hearted, the sick and abandoned. The freedom we have in Jesus sinks deep down into the soul and melts away the fire of every sin and hatred. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” What is required of us is to have strong faith and trust in God like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Wednesday March 29th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

28^th Lenten Meditation