Wednesday of the Fifth Week

Reflection

With Holy Week almost upon us, today’s readings offer good opportunities for reflection and recommitment to our Lenten goals.  Today’s gospel reading from John offers a challenging exchange between Jesus and some of “those Jews who believed in him.” Faced with their security and perhaps complacency as descendants of Abraham, Jesus reminds them that to be truly free from bondage to sin, their faith and works must rest in God and in the Son whom He sent.

We encounter a beautiful “double dose” of Daniel’s Chapter 3 in the first reading and Responsorial Psalm. Describing 6^th century BC events during King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, the Book of Daniel was written several centuries later. Earlier in the book, we learn about the captured Daniel and his three Hebrew companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who were given pagan names of Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (likely connected to Babylonian gods) to encourage their Babylonian cultural integration.

Despite their bondage and their captors’ efforts, Daniel and his friends remained true to their faith, initially resisting the king’s food and drink and thriving on a diet of vegetables and water. Enduring smaller tests of fidelity in captivity, Daniel and his companions remained faithful and achieved true freedom when faced with the fiery furnace “heated seven times more than usual.”  Would that we all dance one day “unfettered and unhurt” with the Son of God in the joy of the resurrection!  Source of a common Liturgy of the Hours canticle refrain, Daniel’s Chapter 3 reminds us that our Lord is “praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”  Our Gospel verse nicely concludes our reflection: Blessed are they who keep the word with generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

Prayer

Lord, help us to stay true to our faith in smaller matters in preparation for future trials. May our growth through daily challenges lead to true rejoicing on Easter! We pray especially for Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith, yet persevere through adversity. Amen.

George Ashline, Professor of Mathematics

Scripture

First Reading: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
Psalm: Daniel 3:52-56
Gospel: John 8:31-42

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website