WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Blessed are those who,
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance. LK 8:15

DANIEL 3:14-20,24-25,28 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Too often we are taken in by the bluster of the world and cave to the bullying of those who imagine they are more powerful than God. This is a lie that is perpetuated by the godless and the fool and the coward is taken in by them.

The world constantly raises up golden statues of one kind or another and compels us to bow down before them. Those who refuse are not tolerated. The world favors fools who flow with the stream and acquiesce to the status quo. They cause no trouble to the wicked who can then scheme their demonic schemes to devour, to plunder, to destroy, and to kill.

King Nebuchadnezzar was clueless that he being manipulated by evil men. They played on his ego and were able to trick him into commanding the destruction of good men. Men and women of faith will always stand against the current and the forces of evil in the world and they will be ready to lay down their lives for the truth.

In every age, men and women of honor, character, valor, faith in God, and faith in the intrinsic value of every human being in our world, and with the help and grace of God have stood in the breach and withstood grave evil. We will never know how often God Himself has come down and walked with us as He did with Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego when the flames were at their fiercest and kept us safe from the powers of darkness that otherwise would have overwhelmed the world.

In the face of evil may we have the confidence of these three upright young men who stood by their beliefs and bluntly told the king that they would not worship false gods whether or not the one true God whom they believed in came to their rescue.

The world is infuriated by good and faithful Christians who are unbowed no matter what threats are made. Just as the Pharisees and all Your enemies would not rest until they destroyed You, so too the world sees Christians as a thorn in their flesh. 

And so long as the Church remains in the world the rulers of this world will be amazed at the power of God who comes to save His people. ‘Did we not have these three men thrown bound into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ ‘But,’ he went on ‘I can see four men walking about freely in the heart of the fire without coming to any harm. And the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’

Because of the faithfulness of a few God will show mercy on the many just as He assured Abraham who pleaded with Him for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Only now Beloved, it is Your wounds that plead for mercy before the throne of God. 

PSALM DANIEL 3:52-56 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

As long as we have praise in our hearts we will have a song on our lips for You will ensure that we will be a people of joy no matter what the circumstances in our life.

Grant me the courage O Lord to never cease to praise You every moment of my life.