March 20, 2024 Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Memorial of Saint Cuthbert
Daily Readings: Daniel 3:14–20, 91–92, 95; 8:31–42
'The first reading of today narrates an event that happened during the Babylonian exile under Nebuchadnezzar. Certain Chaldeans accuse the Hebrew young men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego of non-compliance with the law of the emperor. Yes! The king personally verifies that these men do not worship Babylonian gods (the Golden Image). They continue to insist that they will never worship any other god than the God of Israel, and thus express their belief that their God will save them from the fiery furnace and the king's hand.
The struggle with which Jesus is involved in Johannine episodes with the Jews of his time is unbelievable. Here, the term "Jews" refers not to the entire Jewish nation but only to those who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Mortal perils constantly entangle him. The Jews make many tall claims to be the children of Abraham and God Himself, but their lives do not in any way demonstrate or support them.
Contrary to the three young Jewish men in Babylon, these people practice false piety and prefer to remain in darkness rather than come to light, which is Jesus. As a result, the only way to become Jesus' disciples is to remain true to his word. Through this, they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free.
The truth over here is not a philosophical ideal or concept. Truth represents Jesus. Knowing the truth means knowing Jesus. It is abundantly clear from John 8:36 that "the Son" takes the place of the word "truth." Therefore, it is Jesus who will guarantee real freedom.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Standing for certain principles can land a person in numerous perils. If one stands strongly, like the three Jewish boys, God will send His angel to protect that person. How strong is my faith?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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