[ Today's Readings ]
They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham
and have never been enslaved to anyone.
How can you say, 'You will become free'?"
It's hard to receive what Jesus wants to give us when we refuse to see the problem. Jesus wants us to be free. That is why he tries to show us the ways in which we are not free. He reveals the ways in which this world is more of an influence on us than is the kingdom.
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.
Jesus wants us to become children of the Father and to love them both. In this we find the purpose for which we are made. We need to receive this freedom from Jesus more and more. Let us not rebel when he shows us areas of our hearts where the darkness lingers. Let us rather come to him for light.
It doesn't matter how profound is our imprisonment. If we trust in the LORD, if we resolve to worship him alone and not idols, then we can know a deliverance even more amazing than that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The bindings of death cannot hold us. The fires of hell cannot consume us. We have freedom even while those forces still press in upon us.
"But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt,
walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God."
When others see our freedom even amidst the flames they see a profound testimony to the power of God.
"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."
Together we join in one chorus of praise.
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.
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