Recognition and reaction

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to be open to recognition of the Presence of God and to react deeply to that moment.

Presence in Nature

In the passage from the Book of Daniel, the protection of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace is a call to action for King Nebuchadnezzar.

* [3:24–90] These verses are additions to the Aramaic text of Daniel, translated from the Greek form of the book. They were probably first composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, but are no longer extant in the original language. The Roman Catholic Church has always regarded them as part of the canonical Scriptures.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus uses the example of son and slave to present choice to the Jewish leadership about accepting Him.

* [8:38] The Father: i.e., God. It is also possible, however, to understand the second part of the verse as a sarcastic reference to descent of the Jews from the devil (Jn 8:44), “You do what you have heard from [your] father.

Angela Maynard introduces a meditation on the truth Jesus offers as an insight into who we are and who He is for us.

Don Schwager is inspired to proclaim how Jesus frees us from the world's temptation to empty glory and lust for greed and power.

Jesus explains that he is speaking of two different senses of "fatherhood". The first is a physical identity through natural fatherhood. And the second and more significant identity is a self-chosen one that is the result of being led and formed in a moral way of thinking and living one's life that has been shaped through the example, words, and influence of someone we are consciously or unconsciously following and imitating.

Friar Jude Winkler summarizes the images of Daniel 3 and notes the Presence of God in the fire. John the Evangelist offers a very dualistic Gospel in which the Jewish leaders must be sons of Satan who are against the Father’s mission.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares John Duns Scotus “haecceity”. This is saying that we come to universal meaning deeply and rightly through the unique and ordinary. Father Richard recommends that we start with loving one situation or one person all the way through. That is the best first school for universal love.

When we start with big universal ideas, at the level of concepts and -isms, we too-often stay there and argue about theory and generalizations. At that level, the mind is totally in charge. It is then easy to love humanity, but not any one person in particular. We defend principles of justice, but would not put ourselves out to live justly

Evidence of Presence of God invites action in our response to deepen our experience of freedom in our relationship with God.

References

(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 3 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3

(n.d.). John, chapter 8 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/8:21

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 21, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/