Protection and Forefathers

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today highlight two areas we need to explore on our spiritual journey: our trust in Providence and the sincerity of our actions as disciples of Christ.

Following the Lead of Christ

The reading from the Book of Daniel relates the story of Nebuchadnezzar and the fiery furnace into which Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown.

* [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. (Daniel, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

The response from the Book of Daniel is the prayer of Azariah in the fire. (Abednego).

In the Gospel of John, the relationship between Jesus and Abraham is developed.

* [8:31–59] Jesus’ origin (“before Abraham”) and destiny are developed; the truth will free them from sin (Jn 8:34) and death (Jn 8:51).

* [8:31] Those Jews who believed in him: a rough editorial suture, since in Jn 8:37 they are described as trying to kill Jesus.

* [8:33] Have never been enslaved to anyone: since, historically, the Jews were enslaved almost continuously, this verse is probably Johannine irony, about slavery to sin.

* [8:35] A slave…a son: an allusion to Ishmael and Isaac (Gn 16; 21), or to the release of a slave after six years (Ex 21:2; Dt 15:12).

* [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.”

* [8:39] The works of Abraham: Abraham believed; cf. Rom 4:11–17; Jas 2:21–23. (John, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Gladyce Janky hears Jesus imploring his audience to release their preconceived understanding with two statements.  First, Jesus says everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin, and second, he invites them to see him as the Son, sharing the Father’s Word.

I can look at this reading and wonder why it was so difficult for the Jews to see Jesus and accept his invitation to be forgiven and granted true freedom.  But I, too, can fall into a similar trap, stuck in my vision of how the world should be, which then blinds me to see and hear how God never ceases to transform and gently invite all of creation into a deeper relationship with Him.  I can be more attentive to God’s presence through the daily Examen prayer.  I can ask for the grace of an open mind and heart.  I can seek to quiet my inner voice, make room for His Word, and be more attentive to how God chooses to show up rather than blinded by how I think He should show up.    

Reflection for today:  How did I make room within myself today for God, and in doing so, how did God surprise me today? (Janky, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The upright of heart,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Do you know who the upright of heart are? They are those who wish what God wishes. Therefore, do not try to twist God's will to you own but correct your will to that of God. The will of God is a rule of conduct. By it you have the means of being converted and of correcting your evil ways." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 93,18) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 8:31-42 comments that like the Jews in today’s Gospel reading, we don’t always understand what is enslaving us. Maybe anger is so deeply buried in our heart that it clouds our relationships and our outlook on life. Maybe we are bound by an excessive attachment to food, alcohol, or drugs. Activities like watching television, shopping, or surfing the internet may be taking up too much of our time and energy. Jesus doesn’t want anything to control us. He is more than capable of satisfying our deepest needs. Jesus has set us free!

Today, take steps to lay hold of the freedom that Jesus has won for you. Let his promises in today’s Gospel give you hope. Read them over and over again, and let them sink deeply into your soul. Then ask the Lord to help you detect anything that is binding you up. Finally, exercise your faith by asking Jesus to free you. Be bold and persistent! You may even want to ask some trusted friends to pray with you. Remember: Jesus loves you so much that he laid down his life for you. He wants nothing less than for you to walk in his freedom, each and every day of your life.

“Jesus, open my eyes to the things that bind me. Give me the faith and the courage to taste the freedom you have won for me.” (Meditation on John 8:31-42, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that the story of the three men set in Babylon at the time of Nebuchadnezzar was written during the Macabee persecution by the Seleucid Empire. The feet of the Son of Man are solid, not like the statue described in the Book of Daniel. Friar Jude reminds us of the choice presented in the dualistic Gospel of John between being true children of Abraham or heirs of the evil one. 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, notes that Theologian Howard Thurman (1899–1981) believed that cultivating inner stillness allows us to experience the divine. Lerita Coleman Brown finds in Thurman’s writings an invitation to be open to the possibility of everyday mysticism for all.

Everyday mystics are people who commune with the presence of God, receive guidance through prophetic visions, voices, and dreams, and commit themselves to living for God rather than solely for themselves. Their vision for life is larger and more expansive, knowing that they are alive for a reason, a purpose that will benefit human spirits they may never meet. Thurman lived out an identity grounded in mysticism, as he regularly felt oneness with God and on occasion experienced visions. He also believed that mystical moments should stir people toward love, community, and social action. (Rohr, n.d.)

We wonder if the depth of our trust in God is as deep as the three men in the furnace and we are challenged by Jesus' accusation that our spiritual focus may need adjustment.

References

Daniel, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3?14 

Janky, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032024.html 

John, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/8?31 

Meditation on John 8:31-42. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/03/20/916477/ 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Alive for a Reason. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/alive-for-a-reason/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Truth Will Make You Free. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=mar20 

Life and Faithfulness

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite meditation on the challenges in life to remain faithful to the truth revealed in our relationship with God.

 

The Path has difficulties

The reading from the Book of Daniel tells of the support of God for the faithful men in the fiery furnace.

 * [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.1

The Prayer of Azariah, in Daniel 3, declares God as praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

 

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever1.

In the Gospel of John, faith connects Jesus and Abraham.

 

* [8:31–59] Jesus’ origin (“before Abraham”) and destiny are developed; the truth will free them from sin (Jn 8:34) and death (Jn 8:51).2

Edward Morse comments that dissonance between the truth and our willingness to live by it eventually gets sorted out.

 

But Jesus did not mince words about the dissonance between how they thought of themselves and the reality of their condition.  I sometimes hear people say, “I’d like to think that….”  Of course, we would like to think many things, but that does not make them so!  I am also one of those people.  It is hard to see ourselves as we are, particularly when we need mercy and forgiveness for our faults and flaws. Lord, help us see ourselves as we are, but also to see your offer of mercy just as clearly.  Help us to run toward you while we have the ability to do so.  Give us courage to live truly and not by lies, knowing that you are near us, even in the fire.  Deliver us especially from droopy hands and double paths, which lead us away from the good we desire and so desperately need.  Thanks be to God.3

Don Schwager quotes “The upright of heart,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

 

"Do you know who the upright of heart are? They are those who wish what God wishes. Therefore, do not try to twist God's will to your own, but correct your will to that of God. The will of God is a rule of conduct. By it you have the means of being converted and of correcting your evil ways." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 93,18)4

The Word Among Us Meditation on Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 comments that the “furnaces” could be tragedies, trials, or challenges in our life—anything that requires an extraordinary amount of strength to overcome or endure. Today’s first reading assures us that no matter how hard the task before us may be, God will be with us. He can give us the strength and courage to face those flames and to come out even stronger than before.

 

For others of us, a wounded relationship can feel like a furnace that burns away the peace and security we once found in that other person’s friendship. But God is in the midst of those flames as well, offering us his healing love and helping us decide when and how to seek reconciliation. Identifying and stopping sinful patterns of behavior can also be hard as the flames of temptation draw closer and closer. But God is even there, standing right beside us as those foul thoughts and desires flare up. They can’t chase him away; he is always ready to give us his strength and determination to keep fighting.5

Friar Jude Winkler connects the angel in the fiery furnace to the Son of God cited in Revelation. Descendents of Abraham are heir to a strong faith that believes in the Promise of God.

 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, notes that one of the great scholars of the Jewish scriptures was Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–1972). In his in-depth study of the Hebrew prophets, he included this description of the prophets which is really rather surprising. We often think of prophets as scolds, rather judgmental and cranky, but Heschel reminds us of their essential gifts of creativity and imagination. In Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country” many of her words connect deeply with words from the Hebrew prophets.

 

The prophet is a poet. His experience is one known to the poets. What the poets know as poetic inspiration, the prophets call divine revelation. . . . The inspiration of the artist is what is meant by “the hand of the Lord which rests upon the prophet.” What makes the difference between the prophet and the ordinary person is the possession of a heightened and unified awareness of certain aspects of life. Like a poet, he is endowed with sensibility, enthusiasm, and tenderness, and above all, with a way of thinking imaginatively. Prophecy is the product of poetic imagination. Prophecy is poetry, and in poetry everything is possible, [such as] for the trees to celebrate a birthday, and for God to speak to [humans]. The statement “God’s word came to me” was employed by the prophet as a figure of speech, as a poetic image. [1]6

We ponder the words of the prophets and seek the wisdom of God for enduring the fires in life.

 

References

1	(n.d.). Daniel, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3
2	(n.d.). John, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://www.usccb.org/bible/john/8
3	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections - Online .... Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032421.html
4	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
5	(n.d.). 5th Week of Lent - The Word Among Us. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://wau.org/meditations/2021/03/24/181251/
6	(2021, March 24). Prophets as Poets — Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://cac.org/prophets-as-poets-2021-03-24/

 

Freedom in the Truth

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today have inspired our commentators to consider themes of freedom and epiphany or revelation.

Life about God

The texts from the Book of Daniel are used in the first reading and for the psalm.

* [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.1 

They praise God for deliverance from the furnace. In the Gospel of John, Jesus explains His relationship with Abraham.

 * [8:31–59] Jesus’ origin (“before Abraham”) and destiny are developed; the truth will free them from sin (Jn 8:34) and death (Jn 8:51).2

Joe Zaborowski reflects and considers the Gospel. The answer is always the same. Keep Christ centered and put my faith in Him.

 We may seem to be in the middle of a burning furnace now but with our reliance on Christ at the center our lives, we will be in the only place we need to be to ride out these times of uncertainty3

Don Schwager quotes “The upright of heart,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

 "Do you know who the upright of heart are? They are those who wish what God wishes. Therefore, do not try to twist God's will to you own but correct your will to that of God. The will of God is a rule of conduct. By it you have the means of being converted and of correcting your evil ways." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 93,18)4

The Word Among Us Meditation on (Psalm) Daniel 3:52-56 comments that there’s one detail to this story that we often overlook: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego sang God’s praises, not after they had been delivered from the fiery furnace, but while they were in the midst of the flames. These three young men were prepared not to be saved. Even before they were rescued from the furnace, they exulted in God’s goodness and glory.

 So how do you do it? Well, you can base your praise on what the Scriptures say about God. He is the Good Shepherd who knows you and is zealously concerned for your life (John 10:10-11). He is Emmanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14). He will never leave you or forsake you (Joshua 1:5). He will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-29). Using these passages, you can praise God, even as you are waiting for him to act.
God always hears you and always answers you, even though sometimes you still have to endure the “heat” of difficulties. He is with you when you feel as if you’re in the fiery furnace just as surely as he is with you when all seems right with the world. So thank and praise him for being by your side. Perhaps he will speak to you right then and there. Or perhaps his answer will come much later, and you will recognize it only through the lens of hindsight. Whatever happens, always declare God’s goodness, and it will come to you—in his time and according to his wisdom.
“Lord, thank you for always being with me, even when all I feel is the heat of adversity.”5

Friar Jude Winkler explains the probable historic connection of the Book of Daniel to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Hellenistic king of the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. The Gospel dualism underlines a choice between Jesus and Satan. Friar Jude points to the First Letter of John for a more nuanced text concerning grey areas.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that accepting that our lives are not about us is a Copernican revolution of the mind, and it is just as hard for each individual today as it was for earthbound humans when they discovered that our planet was not the center of the universe. It takes a major and monumental shift in consciousness, and it is always given and received with major difficulty. It comes as an epiphany, as pure grace and deliverance, and never as logic or necessary conclusion.

 Understanding that our lives are not about us is the connection point with everything else. It lowers the mountains and fills in the valleys that we have created, as we gradually recognize that the myriad forms of life in the universe are merely parts of the one life that most of us call God. After such a discovery, we are grateful to be a part—and only a part! We do not have to figure it all out, straighten it all out, or even do it perfectly by ourselves. We do not have to be God. It is an enormous weight off our backs. All we have to do is participate!
After this epiphany, things like praise, gratitude, and compassion come naturally—like breath. True spirituality is not taught; it is caught once our sails have been unfurled to the Spirit. Henceforth our very motivation and momentum for the journey toward holiness and wholeness is immense gratitude for already having it!6

The truth will set you free as promised in the Gospel but first it may challenge us with an epiphany concerning the grace of God in our lives.

References

1	(n.d.). Daniel, chapter 3 - United States Conference. Retrieved April 1, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3
2	(n.d.). John, chapter 8 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved April 1, 2020, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/8:32
3	(n.d.). Daily Reflections - OnlineMinistries .... Retrieved April 1, 2020, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
4	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 1, 2020, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
5	(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved April 1, 2020, from https://wau.org/meditations/2020/04/01/
6	(2020, April 1). Lesson Three: Your Life Is Not About You — Center for Action .... Retrieved April 1, 2020, from https://cac.org/lesson-three-your-life-is-not-about-you-2020-04-01/