Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday, 5th Week of Lent, March 24th, 2021
Texts: Dan. 3:14-20.24-25.28; Ps. Dan. 3:29-34; John 8:31-42
Today we are presented with another daring faith; we see in the story a heroic act of faith. The faith displayed by Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego is such an unconditional faith. This is clear in their words: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If 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 your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.” They were ready to give up their lives for their faith, it does not matter to them whether God saves them or not. What matters to them is the word: 'You shall not worship other gods beside Me' (Ex. 20:3; 34:14). We are to emulate them; we should free our faith from being attached to things, the things of this world.
Jesus Christ, in today's gospel reading, tells us to make His words the anchor of faith, we should hand our faith on the words of Jesus Christ. He says, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Our faith should not hang on the miracle we await to receive from Him but on His words; our faith should not hang on the prayer answered but on the words He spoke to us.
It is when we abide in His words that we truly follow Him. When we follow Him, we become His disciples. Being His disciples, we become like Him in everything. Jesus also provides an answer to the Pilate's question: "What is the truth?" (John 18:38). Jesus tells us that if we abide in His word that we will know the truth. This means His word is the truth. Truth stands forever, it does not change or cast shadow. It does not change in respect to time or place. It does not change in respect to colour, race, tribe, ethnic group or person. The words of God apply to all in this same way. Whoever desires to know the truth should abide in His word. When our faith hangs on His word, it hangs on the truth. The faith that is hung on the words of God is the true faith; such a faith stands firm in time of adversity and it bows neither to torment nor death. Such a faith is the faith of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego. They did not fear the torment of the fiery furnace or death. Whoever wants to make His faith daring should hang it on nothing but the words of God.
Jesus Christ also tells us that truth gives freedom. Jesus Christ is the truth. This reminds us once again that Jesus Christ is the Word of God, the Truth. When we abide in Him, the Truth, He sets us free. Hence, He says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you." The pharisees were the slaves to sin by their sins. Being slaves to sin, they could not set people free by their teaching because they had corrupted the words of God. Jesus, as the Son of God, knows the Father and teaches the truth about Him. Hence, He says, "I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father. ... If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did. You do the works of your father. ... If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.” When we abide in the words of Jesus, we gain freedom.
The freedom we gain by abiding in Jesus' word is both of the spirit and of the body. When we abide in the word, we are released from anxiety, worries, apprehension and fear caused by lying or being false. Whoever lies or spread falsehood is not free of worries, anxiety, depression, apprehension, and fear. Whoever lies forever lives in the fear of the day that his/her lie or falsehood will come to light. When we abide in the words of God, the truth, we come to know that lie put man in bondage rather than freedom, we will come to know that lie or falsehood often steals away our joy and peace rather than giving them. We gain freedom of the spirit by being free from sin.
A daring faith is hung on the words of God and nourished by the same words. When faith is hung on other things else, apart from the words of God, is bound to fail. Such a faith cannot withstand adversity; torment and fear of death will always triumph over it.
God our Father, we thank You for the gift of Your words, grant that we may so love Your words and make them the anchor of our faith. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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