Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent

1st Reading         Daniel 3:14-20.24-25.28
Psalm                   Daniel 3: 29-30. 31. 33. 32-34 (R. 29b)
Gospel                   John 8:31-42

By: Edmund Elorm Ackuaku

Truth furthers faithfulness

Freedom consists in faithfulness to what we believe for what we believe, we trust, cannot fail us because it is truth in spite of relativity. This kind of faithfulness enters into a kind of discipleship which tends to show forth the Glory of God. This idea, I believe, runs through the readings of today as we focus on fidelity (1st Reading) and Truth (Gospel).

We read the popular story in the book of Daniel about the deliverance of the three Jews-Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego- who refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. Note that we are reading about Jews in exile in Babylon who are experiencing religious oppression together with those in the province of Babylon. We also have to know that we are reading from the First part of the book of Daniel which concerns Daniel and the Babylonian Kings. Worth noting is the fact that burning of people who flout rules was not new to the Jews. Look at Gen. 38:24; Lev. 20:14; 21:9 and Jer. 29:22 for evidences. You may also look at The Code of Hammurabi, a Babylonian extra biblical literature (Paragraphs 110 and157).

Let us take note of the following as causes of religious oppression. These must be checked in our lives daily so that we do not oppress others. These are derived from Nebuchadnezzar's life. 

1. The pride and haughtiness of power. 

2. The endeavouring to recommend ourselves to man rather than God. 

3. The opinion that such cruel punishment is meritorious for the expiation of the crime. 

However, these four things must be held in high esteem to merit the deliverance of God. They have been deduced from the conduct and reaction of the three young men. 

1. They were faithful servants of God 

2. They trusted  (v. 17)

3. They were resolute and constant in holy profession (v. 18)

4. They chose to suffer death for their God and their religion. This is an opportunity to show forth God's glory through martyrdom.

The Gospel speaks primarily about truth. This kind of truth is geared towards redemption and knowledge. Discipleship consists in faithful adherence to the dictates of a leader. Faithful adherence terminates in a knowledge of truth. 

The concept of truth is fundamental to the Gospel of John and this is further stressed by only the Gospel of John by identifying Jesus as the Truth (cf. John 14:6)  and Jesus being spoken of as being full of grace and truth (cf. John 1: 14). In Christ subsists all Truth. This truth concerns that mysteries of the Kingdom revealed to little ones. 

Disciples are like little ones, those who are ignorant and ready to substitute knowledge for ignorance. For this humility, the mysteries of the Kingdom are made known. The mysteries were well expressed in Christ, his way of life and what he says about the Kingdom for he is from the Kingdom (cf. John 7: 29) and he has full knowledge of the Kingdom. 

Truth of this kind redeems us from ignorance. In fact, this truth is Christ himself. It is through Christ, the truth, and faithful adherence to what he says, revealed in Scripture and Tradition, and his way of life, that our quest to get to the Father will be attained (Jn. 14 :6b).

Inability to follow in the footsteps of Christ in order to be endowed with truth about the Kingdom situates one in a state of 'missing the mark'.  This is stressed in the Gospel with the Greek word amartia (αμαρτία) which denotes sin. True knowledge and imitation of Christ grants freedom from the slavery of sin. Freedom from sin and ignorance about the Kingdom come from Christ, the Truth.

May the Lord grant us the Grace to know him more and may this increase our faith. 

Amen. 

#40DaysInTheDesert
#PaxEtBonum