Wednesday of 5th Week of Lent – Dan 3:14-20,91-92,95; Dan 3:52-56; John 8:31-42
“Are you prepared . . .?” – asks Nebuchadnezzar of the three young boys, telling them to choose between idolatry and death. “Are you ready . . .?” Jesus seems to be asking the Pharisees – “Are you ready to show me that you are children of Abraham, that God is your Father?”. Are we ready at the appropriate time to show our fidelity, love, faith?
Sometimes it’s not enough to “somehow” live in a foreign world as the youths did in the court of a pagan king. Sometimes it’s not enough to pride yourself on adherence to the traditions of the Jewish elite. Sometimes there comes a time of trial, action. And then the previous good life in an alien world is useful, hitherto being faithful to tradition is useful – this is what we do, our training ground, our tactics. In themselves they mean little – but serve to help us know at the right time how to make a choice. For God or against Him. Yea or nay.
Lord, I entrust my life to you: past, present and future. In You is concealed the secret of freedom and profound joy in the heart. “In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.”