1ST READING
The
three young men are men of faith, and if they die, they accept that it
is the price for being men of faith. They are not going to compromise
their beliefs simply because someone does not accept them, even if it
means death. This is the sort of commitment that the Church asks us to
make when heeding the call of discipleship. The first thing that would
happen would be the death of sin in our lives, and I dare say that would
make our lives look very attractive to those who do not believe — lives
full of grace and blessings.
Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
14 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? 15 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 that can deliver you
out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! 18 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.” 19 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 20 and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace. 24 [91] Nebuchadnezzar
rose in haste and asked his nobles, “Did we not cast three men bound
into the fire?” “Assuredly, O king,” they answered. 25 [92] “But,” he replied, “I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God.” 28 [95] Nebuchadnezzar
exclaimed, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that
trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their
bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
P S A L M
Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R: Glory and praise for ever!
29 [Dan 3:52] “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) 30 [Dan 3:53] “Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.” (R) 31 [Dan 3:54] “Blessed are you on the throne of your
kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” (R) 32 [Dan 3:55] “Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” (R) 33 [Dan 3:56] “Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.” (R)
GOSPEL
Truth
is never self-serving — it is founded on the objective truth of our
human dignity. This is one of the first tests any claim must pass if it
is to be accepted as true. Jesus challenges the Jews’ conception of who
their Father is because their image of God does not concur with His
knowledge of His Father. Jesus is always going to win this argument
because He has inside information as He is the Son of God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.
John 8:31-42
31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. 36 So if the son frees you, then you will truly be free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. 38 I tell you what I have seen in the
Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.” 39 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.
40 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. 41 You are doing the works of your father!” So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God.” 42 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.”
think: Truth is never self-serving — it is founded on the objective truth of our human dignity.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
____________________________________
God’s special verse/thought for me today_
_____________________________________
READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 19-21
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