Daily Readings - Wed Mar 21 2018
First Reading - Daniel 3.13-20, 24, 49-50, 91-95
Daniel
13Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.14Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
Gospel - John 8.31-42
John
31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.37I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful stories of faith and freedom. The first reading from Daniel recounts the courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to worship a golden statue despite King Nebuchadnezzar's decree. Their unwavering faith in God led them to be thrown into a fiery furnace, yet they were miraculously saved by an angel. This act of deliverance not only amazed the king but also led him to acknowledge the power of their God. The Gospel from John presents Jesus discussing spiritual freedom with Jewish believers. Jesus emphasizes that true freedom comes from abiding in his word and recognizing that sin enslaves. He challenges them to look beyond their lineage and instead follow God's truth, which only he can provide.
Both readings highlight the theme of freedom, though in different contexts. Daniel's story is set during the Babylonian exile, illustrating the Jews' resistance to idolatry and their trust in God's deliverance. John's narrative, on the other hand, focuses on spiritual freedom through Jesus, emphasizing that true liberation is from sin, not physical bondage. Together, they remind us that freedom is not just physical but deeply spiritual, requiring faith and adherence to God's will.
In our daily lives, we face similar choices between conforming to the world or standing firm in our faith. Like the three men in Daniel, we must trust God even in the face of adversity. Jesus teaches us that sin enslaves, but through him, we can be free. This freedom calls us to live according to God's truth, rejecting the pressures of the world and embracing His grace. The moral lesson is clear: true freedom is found in trusting and following God, living according to His truth, and not being bound by sin or worldly pressures.