Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent
Dan 3:14-20,24-25,28
Jn 8:31-42
King Nebuchednezzar said: Shadrach, Misach, and Abednago, is it true that that you do not serve my gods, and that you refuse the golden statue I have erected? …Shadrach, Misach, and Abednago replied to King Nebuchednezzar, “Your question hardly requires an answer: if our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, O king, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, O king, that we will not serve your god, nor worship the statue that you have erected.”
I am unfamiliar with the book of Daniel. In fact, the only account I am aware of is Daniel in the lions’ den. However, while reading this passage from the first reading, I remembered that it appeared in my daughter’s illustrated bible. I then asked her if she knew the story, and indeed she did. She retold the story of the 3 men thrown into the furnace, and miraculously, a fourth person was seen in the flames with them who resembled the Son of God. Through this, King Nebuchednezzar was convinced of the power of God, and was converted.
This passage felt very powerful as I read it. The unshakeable faith of the 3 men and the powerful way they held fast to it, even in the face of death, should inspire us to keep God in our sights, as He has promised to protect us. I had been reading the book of Proverbs recently, and there are several verses that spoke of reverence and keeping our eyes on God. Only a fool would walk down worldly paths.
We all start out innocent and with purity of heart. Just look at the children and the unbridled goodness they embody. Unfortunately, as we get older, we lose this innocence and we begin to prefer worldly ways, and we begin to crave what we think freedom is. We want to break free of the rules and regulations that prevent us from living the life that the world promises us. Basically, we want to be rid of morality because we start to prefer the world’s promises over God’s promises. How then, can we break free of this type of temptation? How can we turn away from sin and become stronger in our conviction, in our faith, like the 3 men in the first reading? First, we need a huge dose of humility.
In contrast with King Nebuchednezzar, who had taken pride in his own gods and golden statues, Sedrach, Misach, and Abednago leaned on God to save them. They did not claim to have their own power, or cunning, or skill, to escape the furnace. It is also this humility that can make us realise that what we have may not truly belong to us, and what we have achieved may be, in fact, for the greater good instead of personal gains. Yes, we have been hardworking and diligent, and we have reaped the rewards of our efforts. But do we flaunt our achievements simply to make everyone know we are the best? Or do we use our achievements to better the lives of those around us, regardless of whether anyone is watching or keeping score? What good does it do to be the richest person on earth, if all you want is that title? Is it not more noble to give away your riches for the good of others, and merely be living comfortably? Of course, whichever you choose depends a great deal on what you prioritise and how humble you are.
We also need a huge dose of modesty. This is similar to humility, but it also implies a kind of propriety in actions and speech, so as not to draw disproportionate attention to yourself. In other words, modesty means to not be an egotistical attention seeker. A ruler that creates his own gods and forges his own statues for worship is far from modest. He has every intention of making everyone else notice him, and to control everyone else so that they do his bidding. On the other hand, the 3 men refused to bow down to that king and his false gods, and simply repeated their belief and faith in the True God.
Who do we truly worship? Brothers and sisters, I urge you, this Lent, to look deep into your hearts and reflect on what you truly worship. That which you worship can be seen in your words and your deeds. Do people think of you as being humble and modest? Or do people think of you as opulent and extravagant? Do people encounter Christ when they encounter you? Or do they merely encounter a larger than life version of you that does not edify anyone? I do not mean that you get rid of your personality — I mean that you hold on to your personality, but get rid of your sins. Transform, and become a better, godlier version of yourself.
We are all made in the image and likeness of God. This means we all have an inherent dignity right from the start. We must live our lives to reflect this dignity that we have. Furthermore, we are Christians. This means we need to reflect the love of Christ in our everyday lives, so that others may see and believe in God’s love for them. We need to take Sedrach, Misach, and Abednago as role models for living out our faith. Put God first, make Him the center of our lives, lean on Him, amplify His love.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Felicia Zou)
Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for the humility to recognise you in our lives. Give us the grace and courage to live the lives you have planned out for us, so that we may bring your love to others.
Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we thank You for Your unending love for us.
OXYGEN 
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