Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Today’s first reading brings us the familiar story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their deliverance by God from the fiery furnace. Fans of the Veggie Tales cartoons will remember them as Rach, Shack, and Benny. In fact, if you’re at home with your children (or even if it’s just you!), you might enjoy watching the episode based on this scripture reading with them and discussing the biblical message. You can find the full-length version here. This scripture from Daniel is so timely as we find ourselves in the fiery furnace of a pandemic. Just as God delivered the three friends from the crisis in which they found themselves, so also will God deliver us. And not only did these three men experience deliverance, they used the opportunity of crisis to witness courageously to their faith. Because of their faith and their boldness to share it, the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar repented and experienced conversion. May our faith and love for God shine through these troubled days so that others may come to know the loving deliverance of our Lord. Sometimes it’s hard to maintain that focus when our fears, anxieties, despair, and the whole host of human emotions try to take over. How do we keep faith, hope, and love in the driver’s seat during times like this? I think our responsorial psalm gives us an answer.
Our “psalm” today comes from Daniel chapter 3. If you refer to a Catholic translation of the Bible, you’ll find two glorious hymns of praise that interrupt the narrative between verses 23 and 24. Excerpts of one of those hymns comprise our Responsorial today. I’ve seen it referred to as the Canticle of Daniel. You can find it Here. I experience praise to be a powerful antidote to despair. I invite you to pray the entire Canticle of Daniel out loud. As you pray “Bless the Lord . . .” over and over, allow the repetition to sink into your entire being, your entire essence. Then perhaps you can shift into gratitude, offering your own personal litany of thanksgiving to God. Let your prayer flow freely, naming thing after thing, person after person, situation after situation for which you are grateful. Let the objects of your gratitude be large or small – just let your gratitude gush freely. I pray that at the end of your litany your spirit feels lifted, your soul feels a bit freer, your mind feels quieter and more at peace, your heart feels warmed, and your body feels more relaxed. I find it impossible to feel stressed or anxious during moments in which I offer praise and thanksgiving to God. I hope you experience the same release and deliverance from the things that might be dragging you down.
In closing, I offer you a beautiful song by Tauren Wells, entitled Hills and Valleys. You can find it Here. I pray it ministers to you. Be safe, well, and at peace, friends. To God be the glory!
- Elizabeth Wourms