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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the story of three young men whom the king wanted to be burned but who were delivered from the furnace, is a story of faithfulness. These men refused to bow down and worship an idol. They were threatened with death, but they stood by their principles. As a result, God rescued them for their faithfulness.
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There’s a striking parallel with the incidents in the readings from the Book of Daniel and from the Gospel of John. In both stories, a woman, threatened by a crowd, is saved because one person intervenes and alters things. The stories, however, end very differently: one in peace and the other in violence.
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We are in a new phase of Lent. There is no longer a focus on penance but on promise. The Prophet Isaiah describes God's promise to Israel. During the Babylonian exile, Israel felt that God had forgotten them because of their grievous sin. They believed God had "kicked them to the curb" or "thrown them under the bus." God uses colorful figures of speech to reassure them of His love despite the discipline He had enforced.
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Today, we turn to the story in John 4, where Jesus encounters a desperate nobleman. This man's world is crumbling–his son lies deathly ill at Capernaum while Jesus remains in Cana. The nobleman pleads, "Sir, come down before my son dies!" These words, "come down," become a powerful refrain in this story.
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Lent activities | Sunday Gospel Activities | family prayer
Saints have been painted in bright colors because they were great leaders: kings, queens, emperors, knights in shining armor, even generals of armies like Joan of Arc, or brightly robed bishops, popes, and abbots. When you look at the choirs of saints in heaven, you are dazzled by all the color, all the talent, and all the most incredible human and holy accomplishments. When it comes to Saint Joseph — what dazzling colors do we find for him? No red of martyrs, no gold of world leaders, no pulpit of great preachers, no scroll of great authors. No, just a small workshop, a little hut with a battered shingle over the door that says: "Joseph and Son, Carpenters."
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Family Activities | Gospel Reflection | family life | family prayer
Dad: "Kids, it’s time for bed." Kids: "Throw us in bed! Dad, throw us in bed!" (Dad picks a kid up in his arms.) Dad: "Did I ever tell you about the three men in the book of Daniel who were thrown into the fiery furnace?" Kids: "No!" Dad: "Their names were... Shadrach... Meshach... and ToBedYouGo!" We can sometimes feel as if we too have been cast into the furnace; just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The fiery furnace is something we all come across in our lives. Not just once, but many times.
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