+ The readings today are dramatic, vivacious and vital to
our spiritual growth and maturity. They challenge us to be willing to be “put
into the white-hot furnace heated seven times its normal capacity” – as an
attempt to sear out, blast out, and burn out the relationship of the faithful
with their “God” – the One God of Creation, the God of Salvation, the God who
offers us a blessed bliss in eternal pastures forever.
The three young men are
classic in their response to the King, “we
will not serve your god or worship the golden statue that you have set up.” And
so, they were tossed into the furnace – but were unscathed, untouched by the lapping
flames – in fact they were observed to be walking and talking in the depts of
the inferno to “one who looked like a “son of God” – yes, it no doubt was THE
SON OF GOD! – before he was even conceived or born!
Jesus gives us the power to
withstand any Passion that might come our way during the course of our lives. Even more than one – maybe even seven – the
seven-times heated furnace. But through it all Jesus will be in the depths of
our souls, our beings, our mind and hearts that cannot be disturbed by anything
that can happen to the body – and we will never be tried beyond our limits. He
is there, he will console us, soothe us, instruct us, and even entertain us –
to distract us from the whirring fires and firestorms that are all around us.
The times in which we live are
indeed filling fast with the whirring sounds of threatened nuclear weapons,
bombs exploding, children being murdered, a worldly government system in place
that defies even superlative comments these days – based on a presidency that has
run amuck since the first moment of its launching.
We need to decide, my friends
“Do we want to be free,(free as the guys in the furnace) really free by having
truth set us free, BUT, the truth that can be none other than the PERSON of
Jesus Christ – who walks with us in the flames of life – God’s very speech –
which can neither deceive nor be deceived – become flesh?
Subjective truth will
strangle, suffocate and kill this type of believer. “My truth” will lead this
believer to the real fiery pit, in a fire that is heated infinitely more hot
than normal – where this believer will reside totally alone and roasted–
forever.
The choice the decision is
yours: Love Jesus, love his Father, love all your brothers and sisters, help
them, forgive them, lay down your life for them: and you will be free, really
and truly FREE!
Blessed
are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest
through perseverance.
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