A reading from the prophet Daniel (3:14-20, 24-25, 28)
Nebuchadnezzar addressed them, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, is it true that you do not serve my gods and that you refuse to worship the golden statue I have set up? When you hear the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, zither, harp, bagpipe and every other kind of instrument, are you prepared to prostrate yourselves and worship the statue I have made? If you refuse to worship it, you shall immediately be thrown into the burning fiery furnace; and which of the gods will then save you from my power?’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘Your question needs no answer from us: if our God, whom we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, Your Majesty, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have set up.’
This infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar and his face was distorted as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. He gave orders for the furnace to be made seven times hotter than usual and commanded the very strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar sprang to his feet in amazement. He said to his advisers, ‘Did we not have these three men thrown bound into the fire?’ They answered the king, ‘Yes, indeed, Your Majesty.’ He replied, ‘But I can see four men walking free in the heart of the fire and quite unharmed! And the fourth looks like a child of the gods!’
Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego: he has sent his angel to rescue his servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their God.’
The three young Hebrews, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, now known by their Babylonian names, have refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s gods, or the golden statue he has set up. The first chapter of the book of Daniel listed Daniel himself with these three young men when they first arrived in Babylon and began training for service at the court. The miraculous escape of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego from the furnace provokes the king’s change of heart as he exclaims: ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego.’ The story of their escape from the fiery furnace demonstrates the protection afforded by God to his people living under pagan oppression. The God of Israel, being infinitely superior to the gods of the pagans, is able to convince even the worst of tyrants. God provides the strength and salvation needed by those who are persecuted for their faith.
Psalm: The canticle of the three young men is from the Greek Bible and has been inserted into Daniel chapter 3 at this point.
A reading from the holy gospel according to John (8:31-42)
To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said:
‘If you remain in my word,
you are truly my disciples;
you will come to know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.’
They answered, ‘We are descended from Abraham and we have never been the slaves of anyone; what do you mean, “You will become free?” ’ Jesus replied:
‘Amen, Amen I say to you,
everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
Now a slave does not remain in the household for ever,
but a son remains for ever.
So if the Son sets you free,
you will indeed be free.
I know that you are descended from Abraham;
but you seek to kill me
because my word finds no place in you.
I speak of what I have seen at my Father’s side,
and you too do what you have learnt from your father.’
They replied to him, ‘Our father is Abraham.’ Jesus said to them:
‘If you were Abraham’s children,
you would do as Abraham did.
As it is, you want to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth
which I have learnt from God.
That is not what Abraham did.
You are doing your father’s work.’
They replied, ‘We were not born illegitimate, the only father we have is God.’ Jesus answered:
‘If God were your father, you would love me,
since I have my origin in God and have come from him;
I did not come of my own accord,
but he sent me.’
The evangelist continues to present the conversation of Jesus in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles. Many have come to believe in Jesus, but the mood changes when he suggests that they will be ‘set free’ by the truth he brings them. They resent the insinuation that they are not already free. Their adherence to Abraham is sufficient, they imply, but their lack of freedom means they refuse to recognise God’s word in Jesus. Can they really claim to be children of Abraham, who himself was led by God? Can they really claim to be children of God, if they do not recognise that Jesus has come from the Father?
The road of faith offers new twists and turns, and new surprises.
Pray for freedom from rigidity.