Sr. Bincy Thumpanathu CMC
READING : “Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from your majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, your majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Dan 3:13-18).
REFLECTION: In chapter three of the book of Daniel, we are introduced to three young men who worked at the court of King Nebuchadnezzar, namely, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. On account of their unwavering faith in God, all three were thrown into a fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden image of himself constructed and this was to be a symbol of his power and glory. He then gave an order that at the sound of the musical instruments everyone was to bow down in reverence before this image. Those who ignored the order would be cast into a great blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, however, refused to adore this false idol. Courageously they announced that they would worship only the One True God, and never the golden statue of the King. Thus they were summoned to appear before Nebuchadnezzar to learn their fate. The heat in the furnace was seven times more intense than normal, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were bound and thrown into the middle of the fiercely burning furnace. But an angel of the Lord descended into the furnace and rescued them. The good news is that God will not abandon his children who cling to him in faith. For Christians, faith is the most important element in completing a successful earthly journey. Faith keeps the flame of the Christian life burning. Live the faith like Job, and as these three young men, did especially in trying times. From this passage we learn that we should never abandon hope, even when the challenges we face seem insurmountable, but should earnestly believe that God is close at hand and will answer our call. Also, we should show resilience and never be willing to compromise when it comes to our beliefs.
PRAYER: Prayer From the midst of unbearable heat, Lord, the three young men called out to you for help. May we too follow their great example and resolve never to question your faithfulness in times of hardship and adversity. Lord give us the grace to respond to your voice with a strong faith and deep love and to ignore those that are trying to lead us astray.
CONTEMPLATION : Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God implicitly and were resolute in their love for God, even though their survival was not assured. Now turn to your own life. In the calmness of your heart, examine and evaluate how strong your faith really is when it is tested? Are you steadfast in your faith even if God does not immediately appear to hear your pleas for help? Have you the courage to persevere when all seems lost?
ACTION : • In times of trial hold fast to your belief in the Lord’s goodness and stand firm whenever your faith is put to the test.
• Like the three young men who defied the King, stay strong, be patient when you are afflicted and trust that the Lord will deliver you from all harm.
