THE WORD IN LENT - Wednesday, 5th week in Lent
March 24, 2021: Daniel 3: 14-20, 24-25, 28; John 8: 31-42
Look at three types of people in the first reading today: the officials who reported three youngsters to the King merely because they were against them and against the King being so much for them; then the King himself who acts on the words of the officials and later gets upset with the officials as if they alone were responsible for the injustice done to the three youth; and then the three youth, you did not consider even burning in a furnace worse than turning away from the Lord - who of these was truly free?
Those officials who were caught up in the prison of
jealousy and rancour, wishing the destruction of the other, plotting and
scheming, losing their peace of mind and tranquillity of life?
Or the King who is so full of himself, that he cannot see
the facts, that he goes by hearsay, that he has not guts to take the blame on
himself and tries to blame it on the officials?
Or the three young men... who were bound in no way...they
were free when they were in the Royal court, they were free as they refused to
worship the statue of the King, they were free when they were locked up in the
furnace and they were free when they were taking a stroll at the heart of the
fire. They were free, because they had the truth with them. Truth will set you
free.