Year: 2024

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Daniel 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.”

The Word of the Lord.

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Our first reading from the Book of Daniel seems strange. Almost magical. Miraculous.

Three men are thrown into a white-hot furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar because they will not worship false idols. They will only worship the God of Israel.

“There is no need for us to defend ourselves,” they say. “If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace, may he save us!”

And he does.

As the flames rage, an angel appears, comforting the three men, who are seen walking amidst the flames. Miraculously, God delivers his servants from death because of their faith.

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Sometimes life has a way of throwing all of us into the furnace. 

Not that literal, blazing hot oven these three men were once thrown into, but the figurative kind of furnace.

Think of those who wrestle with fear, anxiety, or mental illness. Others who feel like they’ve lost their path in life. Those who are worried about their health, their finances, their marriage, or their future.

Such experiences threaten to burn away our faith, hope, and peace.

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Remember the three men from our first reading who stood firmly in their faith, even when faced with the white-hot furnace. The Lord sent an angel to protect them. 

God will do the same for us when tested. We shall not be consumed nor tried beyond our strength, because, “We can do all things – even walk through fire – through Christ who strengthens us.”

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Image credits: (1) Holy Fire of the Holy Ghost, LinkedIn (2) I’ve Had an Epiphany!, Blogger (3) FaithPot

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Matthew 1: 16-24

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Today’s Gospel provides some of the clearest insight we have into the heart of Saint Joseph.

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The passage begins with shock. Mary, Joseph’s bride-to-be, is found with child and Joseph knows he is not the father. Imagine his immediate reaction, that the woman whom he loved and trusted has seemingly betrayed him.

Though virtuous, Joseph was only human. I’d imagine after hearing the news, he cried out to God as so many of us would: “God, how could you allow this to happen? Do I not pray to you in the Temple? Do I not offer sacrifice? Do I not follow your commands?”

After the initial shock settles, we see Joseph’s virtue emerge. Although the Law permits him to have Mary stoned, he decides not to expose her to public shame, rather to divorce her quietly. 

Such a gentle dismissal of his bride-to-be reveals the compassion and gentleness of a man who has yet to understand God’s plan.

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Once that plan is revealed, however, we see a deeper dimension of his heart.

An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, assuring him that Mary has not been unfaithful, that his future has not been ruined, and that his marriage can proceed, only on terms that he had never imagined.

Suddenly, the darkness breaks. 

This doesn’t mean that Joseph understands the depths of God’s plans – he must’ve had a thousand different questions. But he doesn’t require perfect clarity to assent to God’s will.

So, he takes Mary and the Christ-child into his home, revealing that Joseph is a man of faith and surrender.

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Which of Joseph’s virtues do I try to practice daily? Or which of them is God calling me to practice in my own family or ministry?

Is it the virtue of compassion? Gentleness? Faith? Or surrender?

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May the Holy Spirit soften our hearts to become more like Joseph, who welcomed Christ into his life, then followed him wholeheartedly.

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Image credits: (1) Saint Coleman Catholic Church (2) The Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph, Giovanni Gasparo (3) The Dream of Saint Jospeh, Phillipe de Champaigne, National Gallery London

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Gospel: John 8: 1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, 
and all the people started coming to him, 
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman 
who had been caught in adultery 
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught 
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin 
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Like skilled fishermen, the scribes and Pharisees believe they’ve caught a big fish – a woman caught in adultery. Now they’re ready to stone her.

Where is the man? He is guilty, too… Maybe he was one of them – an authoritative figure, a neighbor, a friend. 

Instead of engaging these brutish men, Jesus just kneels down and doodles in the sand. What’s he writing?

Some say he’s buying time, collecting his thoughts, letting his adrenaline rescind. Others say he’s writing an account of these men’s own sins, reminding them that they have something in common with this woman:

Human nature.

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To be human not only means that this woman is weak – and capable of sin. It also means that she has access to grace.

We’re all capable of change; growth; and repentance. This is what Lent is about – acknowledging our weaknesses… and accepting the grace to change.

As we prepare for Palm Sunday, and the drama that will unfold with our Lord, we should consider how we’ve changed this Lent. 

What have we learned about ourselves? Were there any pitfalls? Did we grow? Were any lasting changes made?

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May the goodness sparked within us during this holy season continue to bear fruit so that the words of the Lord may also be spoken to us:

“Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

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Image credits: (1) National Catholic Register (2) God Reports (3) Catholic Answers Shop