Daily Readings - Wed Apr 09 2025
Daniel
13Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.14Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, "Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?15Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?"16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.17If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."19Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.20And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."
John
31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."33They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"34Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.37I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.38I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."39They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did,40but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.41You are doing what your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father--even God."42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, 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.