Homily Fifth Wednesday of Lent (Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95) “How Strong am I?”
Homily Fifth Wednesday of Lent (Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95) “How Strong am I?”
We have a tongue twister of a reading today from the Book of Daniel. It is one of the stories about the time of the Babylonian Exile which was from 598 B.C. until 538 B.C. The people of Judah were struggling to hold on to their faith while they live in Babylon. The Babylonians wanted to root out the Jewish faith, but there were courageous people who hung on to their faith no matter what threats were made against them.
We have the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego three Jewish men who were appointed government officials by the King of Babylonia who was named Nebuchadnezzar. The King had constructed a golden statue that would be the God of Babylon. He ordered all his government officials to worship his God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not bow down to worship this idol.
Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage when he was told this. The king brought the three men before him. He threatened torture and death if they did not comply to his orders. They refused. He cast the three men into a fiery furnace.
The bravery of the three Jewish men in this story could remind us of the challenges we face as we live our life in our present-day culture. So many values that are espoused by our society that are not Christian. The first think that comes to mind is our consumer culture. We are told that it is virtuous to spend money on frivolous things while many in the world go hungry. Religion is pushed out of our lives by other activities.
It takes a real act of will, to say, “No I don’t need one more thing.” Or I am going to act chastely. Or to refuse to hate people who disagree with us. The list of temptations we face are endless. It is uncomfortable to stand in opposition to injustices we see. If we do, we can identify with the three men in the furnace. Sometimes it feels like our feet are being held to the fire.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not destroyed by the flames, they ended up singing hymns of praise to God and they danced in the flames. It is noteworthy that they did not blame God for their problems, but they accepted their trial without complaint. They took responsibility for the sins of Israel and remained strong in their faith.
Reflection Questions:
- How do I feel about social sin? Do I feel at all responsible?
- What social sins do I cooperate with? How could I be stronger in my witness for Christ?
Dear Parishioners,
On April 17th Alleman High School will be having its annual Heritage Ball. This is an annual fund raiser and has been always very successful. There will be raffles and a virtual auction and other activities. This year there will not be a dinner where people gather, because of the COVID pandemic.
Fundraising has been a challenge for our Catholic Schools because of the pandemic. Sports programs have been down scaled. Plays and musicals have been canceled.
It is a tough time for our students. I would encourage everyone to support the Heritage Ball. Just give Alleman a call or visit the Heritage Ball website for more information. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark