Exemplary Offensiveness
Mar. 20: Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
In today’s readings, we get two different depictions of arguments. In the first reading, from Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego1 don’t even bother to debate. Such is their faith.
But arguments aren’t necessarily bad. Jesus, being the Word himself, decides to have words with the Pharisees. He makes a solid case—
Reading 1
Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
King Nebuchadnezzar said: "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my god, or worship the golden statue that I set up? Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments; otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace; and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue that you set up."
King Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?"
"Assuredly, O king," they answered.
"But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God." Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God."
These three men have such strong faith, it’s basically unfalsifiable. If God saves them from the furnace (which He does), that proves his existence. But if He doesn’t save them, they won’t change their minds.
That’s a tough stance to take. We often want to test God, as the Israelites did in the desert or as the Pharisees frequently do with Jesus. “God, grant me this one miracle, and then I’ll believe you’re real.”
Unfortunately, that’s not how God works. For one, He’s not a genie at your command.
Second, we have witnesses of miracles, from biblical times through the present. In the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man,2 Abraham said to the rich man “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” You can add “saints” to that list, as well.
Why does God chose to rescue Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from their plight, but not you from ours? I have no idea. Only God does. But that’s not reason to lose faith.
Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim;
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
This is from that section of Daniel that only appears in Catholic Bibles. It’s the prayer Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego say while they’re in the furnace.
They have literally been thrown into a fire, but they won’t stop praising God. It’s an example that is very hard to follow. But that example is exactly why they’re there. First, for those immediately around them, King Nebuchadnezzar and his court; but also, later on, for us.
This is obviously a little facetious, but it reminds me of an old country song: “If you're going through hell, keep on going.”
Verse Before the Gospel
See Lk 8:15
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
Reading today’s frustrating Gospel, you can tell Jesus had perseverance, along with the rest of His virtues.
Gospel
Jn 8:31-42
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?"
Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence; then do what you have heard from the Father."
They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham."
Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!"
So they said to him, "We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God."
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me."
Slavery is kind of a big deal for Jews. They were in and out of slavery for centuries before this, from Egypt to Babylon to Assyria. They’re not technically Roman slaves, but they are vassals, which isn’t great.
So Jesus calling them slaves is a big rhetorical blow. It’s downright offensive.
Which is his point. Sin is offensive. Compare their state with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were literally on fire, and kept praising God.
Jesus is trying to shake them up with his offensive words. He wants them to realize that being a child of Abraham, or even a child of God, is more than a matter of genetics. It’s about choosing to do God’s will, to praise God and do His work of mercy on Earth.
That’s a hard lesson for them to learn. It’s a hard lesson for us to learn. That’s why we need examples, from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to Jesus Himself.
That’s so much fun to say.