Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
At this point in the year, partly because my work is on the academic calendar and it is the middle of the semester, I usually find myself becoming very busy. It’s easy for me at this time to become stressed and to feel as though I’m not going to get everything done. It makes sense to compare these times of stress to a fire that burns—or maybe smolders—in my life. Lent, too, can feel like a burning fire. It’s not always pleasant to be fasting—in fact it can be painful. But the fire of Lent can also be seen as a fire of purification that is supposed to burn away what is excessive or unwholesome and to prepare us for the feast of Easter.
The first reading for today is from the account in the book of Daniel of the fiery furnace. According to that account, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon has a golden statue made. He then issues a decree that everyone serving in the government of his kingdom must bow down and worship the statue when they hear certain music being played. Anyone who does not do so will be thrown into a white-hot furnace. It turns out that there are three Israelite men, officials in the kingdom of Babylon—namely, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who refuse to worship the statue. They are faithful to the Lord and the commandment to guard against worshipping idols.
When Nebuchadnezzar has the three men thrown into the furnace, everyone is shocked to see that they appear to be unharmed. This shows that it is God who is saving them from the flames of the furnace. Azariah (i.e. Abednego) begins to pray to God from the furnace, singing praises to God, the Lord, who is saving them from their enemies who want to destroy them. This is quite remarkable, for instead of being burned and consumed by the flames, Azariah and his companions are free to worship and pray to God. Yet Azariah’s prayer is not just one of thanksgiving. He also asks for mercy and forgiveness, portraying the exile of his people in Babylon as punishment for their turning away from the Lord. God’s act of saving them from the fire of the furnace shows that God has not forgotten his people despite the history of their rebellion. Eventually the men are joined in the furnace by an angel sent by the Lord. The angel puts out the fire and causes the furnace to be covered in dew instead.
This story reminds me of two things. First, I am aware of the many ways that I am at the mercy of God. I am dependent on God for my very life and breath. But I am also dependent on God’s mercy and his forgiveness as both Azariah’s prayer and the gospel reading for today (from Matthew 18) show. Second, it demonstrates that God remains faithful to us even when we are not and that God responds to our attempts to remain faithful to his commands.
Today I pray that God would help me to continue to try to do his will despite the stress that I feel. May I also continue to keep the Lenten fast so that I may be renewed in time to celebrate Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection during Holy Week. And finally, may I find the voice to praise God even in those times when I, like Azariah did, feel the fire of the furnace lapping at my heels.
- Joel Schickel