Wednesday of the Fifth Week
The first reading evoked a distant memory from my youth when I saw the names Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I think it was a song, probably a spiritual. Of more recent memory is the hymn “Be Not Afraid” by the Saint Louis Jesuits with the line, “If you walk amid the burning flames you shall not be harmed.”
The three men fared better than other Old Testament martyrs (of would be martyrs) as they were saved by divine intervention. Interestingly, King Nebuchadnezzar describes the angel as looking like “a son of God” which could be seen as prophetic. The king himself, although perhaps not completely converted, praises the Hebrew God (as does his successor Darius when Daniel escapes the lion’s den). The Responsorial Psalm, also from Daniel, is a song of praise.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims the familiar phrase “the truth will set you free.” The Jews, though they claimed to believe in Him, declare that as descendants of Abraham they have never been enslaved (a strange assertion considering the Exodus, the Babylonian captivity, etc.). He rebukes them and strongly asserts His own divinity and divine mission.
Prayer
Lord, give us the faith to place our trust in You completely. Let Your truth free us from misery and the bonds of sin.
Bill Thompson, Member of the Worshipping Community
Psalm: Daniel 3:52-56
Gospel: John 8:31-42
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
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