Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator
Today's first reading places the characters of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before us. Their Hebrew names are Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael. (Curiously, the spell check on my computer knows their Persian names but not their Hebrew names.) These three figures have lived on in our history and in our tradition because of their stalwart refusal to bend a knee to the golden idol of King Nebuchadnezzar. According to the story, the king's fury at their refusal to obey his command put their lives in peril as they were thrown into a fiery furnace. According to the Scriptures, they were not harmed, not so much as a singed hair on their bodies, and a fourth figure was seen to be walking over the hot coals with them. That fourth figure is said to look like a "son of God." The song of these four men is used at Morning Prayer on every feast day in the Church calendar.
The Scriptures record their remarks to the king before they were bound and thrown into the fire. There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! 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. (Daniel 3:16b-18)
These words could, I believe, be used as a prayer for anyone who suffers from a chronic illness and/or disability. If God would cure us, may God do so. If God will not, know that we will continue to serve God with praise and thanksgiving for all we have been given, especially for the vocation to which God has called us. These are certainly words of faith.