Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
I find the juxtaposition of these two bible stories very interesting. In our Old Testament reading we hear Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to worship the god of Nebuchadnezzar. When they are bound and thrown into the flames, we see they are rewarded for their faithfulness, as a fourth man walks them through the flames, protecting them. This faithfulness and subsequent miracle lead to a conversion in Nebuchadnezzar himself. Because they believe in the Lord and not in their own power, we hear him say, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."
This story, found in the book of Daniel, was part of the historical background for these “Jews who believed in Him” from our Gospel reading. Seeing that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not only rewarded and called blessed, but actually saved from death because of their faithfulness to the Lord, would likely inspire other Jews to hold firm to their beliefs in this same way. Holding firm to the faith of Abraham would be an important and essential practice, as we see happening in our Gospel. Then, Jesus enters the scene. Jesus speaks words that were considered blasphemy. Looking at these two readings in context, I see why it would be hard to know if Jesus could be taken seriously or listened to.
To me, these two readings and their connection cause me to reflect on the power of discernment and how hard it can be to have our beliefs challenged. Prayer and faithful discernment allow us to know our God and therefore stay faithful to Him. Our discernment calls us to look to our past, our present and our future as we are choosing who and whose we are. May we seek to serve and worship only our God and to live in the freedom of the Son, rather than the prison of our sins. Amen.
—AJ Grimm