Daily Readings - Wed Apr 09 2025
Daniel
13Then Nebuchadnezzar, in fury and in wrath, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego should be brought, and so, without delay, they were brought before the king14And king Nebuchadnezzar addressed them and said, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not worship my gods, nor adore the gold statue, which I have set up?15Therefore, if you are prepared now, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, pipe, lute, harp and psaltery, and of the symphony and every kind of music, prostrate yourselves and adore the statue which I have made. But if you will not adore, in the same hour you will be cast into the furnace of burning fire. And who is the God that will rescue you from my hand?"16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, "It is not right for us to obey you in this matter17For behold our God, whom we worship, is able to rescue us from the oven of burning fire and to free us from your hands, O king18But even if he will not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not worship your gods, nor adore the gold statue, which you have raised up."19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and the appearance of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he commanded that the furnace should be heated to seven times its usual fire20And he ordered the strongest men of his army to bind the feet of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the furnace of burning fire24And they were walking in the midst of the flame, praising God and blessing the Lord49But the angel of the Lord descended with Azariah and his companions into the furnace; and he cast the flame of the fire out of the furnace50And he made the middle of the furnace like the blowing of a damp wind, and the fire did not touch them, nor afflict them, nor bother them at all91Then king Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, and he quickly got up and said to his nobles: "Did we not cast three men shackled into the midst of the fire?" Answering the king, they said, "True, O king.92He answered and said, "Behold, I see four men unbound and walking in the midst of the fire, and no harm is in them, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of God.93Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the entrance of the furnace of burning fire, and he said, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the supreme God, come out and approach." And immediately Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went out from the midst of the fire94And when the governors, and the magistrates, and the judges, and the powerful of the king had gathered together, they considered these men because the fire had no power against their bodies, and not a hair of their head had been scorched, and their pants had not been affected, and the smell of the fire had not passed onto them95Then Nebuchadnezzar, bursting out, said, "Blessed is their God, the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued his servants who believed in him. And they altered the verdict of the king, and they delivered up their bodies, so that they would not serve or adore any god except their God
John
31Therefore, Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him: "If you will abide in my word, you will truly be my disciples32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.33They answered him: "We are the offspring of Abraham, and we have never been a slave to anyone. How can you say, ‘You shall be set free?’ 34Jesus answered them: "Amen, amen, I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin35Now the slave does not abide in the house for eternity. Yet the Son does abide in eternity36Therefore, if the Son has set you free, then you will truly be free37I know that you are sons of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word has not taken hold in you38I speak what I have seen with my Father. And you do what you have seen with your father.39They responded and said to him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them: "If you are the sons of Abraham, then do the works of Abraham40But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I have heard from God. This is not what Abraham did41You do the works of your father." Therefore, they said to him: "We were not born out of fornication. We have one father: God.42Then Jesus said to them: "If God were your father, certainly you would love me. For I proceeded and came from God. For I did not come from myself, but he sent me
Sermon
The readings today present us with powerful lessons about faith, freedom, and the ultimate trust in God. In the first reading from Daniel, we witness the courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they stand firm in their belief in God, even when faced with the threat of death in a fiery furnace. Their refusal to worship the golden statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar is a testament to their unwavering faith. Despite the king's fury and the intensity of the fire, they trust that God will rescue them, and indeed, God sends an angel to protect them. This story reminds us that true faith is not about avoiding challenges but about trusting God to see us through them.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to the Jews who believed in him, emphasizing the importance of abiding in his word. He tells them that the truth will set them free, but they resist this idea, claiming to be descendants of Abraham and therefore free. Jesus challenges their understanding, pointing out that sin enslaves and that true freedom comes only through him. He also confronts their actions, which contradict the faith of Abraham. This exchange highlights the tension between claiming a spiritual heritage and living out that heritage in obedience to God. Jesus calls us to move beyond mere association with God to a life transformed by his truth.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we are called to stand firm in our faith, even when faced with opposition. Like the Jews in the Gospel, we are challenged to examine whether our actions align with our professed beliefs. True freedom comes not from external circumstances but from living in the truth of God's love and grace. Let us strive to trust God in all situations, knowing that he is our ultimate deliverer, and let us seek to live out our faith in ways that reflect the transformative power of Christ.