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Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Faith in Hot Times


The WORD today reminds me that I should have faith in God, especially in difficult situations. 

In the movie "Facing the Giants" one of the moving scenes I like was when the team was in the locker room and their leader was exhorting them - "if we win, we praise Him. If we lose, we still praise him. Either way, we're giving God the glory". No matter what happens, they resolved to praise God and offer him whatever the outcome of the game. This is what God wants from us. 

God wants us to have faith in him, no matter what situation we are in. 

The first reading tells us an amazing story! Imagine three men (with cool names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) thrown to a furnace so hot, with their hands tied. Seemed like there was no escape. All odds were against them. However, they did not falter in faith. They remained faithful to God, no matter if God saves them or not. They resolved to put their faith in God, regardless of the situation and regardless of how God would respond. Thats how great their faith is. That's how much they trust God. 

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.” 

That's faith, and surrender. And God rewarded them by saving them. 

They had firm faith in God. Their faith was not dependent on the outcome. Their faith was not dependent on the situation. Their faith was not dependent on how God would respond. They did not bargain. They had faith. Full faith. However, we sometimes don’t. We sometimes bargain. Lord, grant me this prayer request and I will go to mass every Friday. Lord, may I pass this important interview, and I will give 10% of my salary to the church. Lord, please give me my ideal girlfriend and I will stop playing around. We have conditions. We want to get what we want first before doing what God wants. This is the opposite of how the men acted, of how God wants us to act. The three men decided to serve God no matter what happens. we should also resolve to. 

Right now, we are probably facing a similar situation. The corona virus is still a big problem, even after more than a year. We still can’t seem to see an end. A lot of people are not confident on the response and plans of the government. People are getting hungry because a lot cannot work. It is frustrating. It is scary. But it is still right to trust in God.  God is still more powerful than this virus. God is still loving. We just need to trust in him. We just need to have faith. We just need to act out faith and help others. 

Do I have faith in God in all situations? Do I have faith in him when times are tough, or just when things are easy? Do I trust in his saving love and power? 

May we choose and decide to follow, serve, and love God no matter what the situation is, and even if he does not grant us our deepest desires and prayer requests. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another interesting and inspiring story. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for your great love for me. Thank you for your great power. Lord, sorry for the times my faith falters. Sorry for the times I do not trust you. Sorry for the times I compromise my faith and my values. Help me live pleasing to you. Lord, may I be like the three men in the first reading who decided to stand up for you regardless if you hear their prayer or not, even if it can cost them their lives. Help me have faith like theirs. Help me live that faith in you. Strengthen me and prepare me until the time I can confidently do the same for you.  May this virus strengthen my faith in your love and your power. I continue to trust in you. And as I do what I should to prevent further spread, I will also do my best to help other people who need help. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-

March 24, 2021
5th Week of Lent - Wednesday; Blessed Diego

FIRST READING

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.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. (52b) 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!

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

GOSPEL

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.”

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