Daily Readings - Wed Apr 09 2025
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.
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
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.