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!
As persons, we sometimes feel like we’ve been cast into the furnace - like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The fiery furnace is something we all come across in our lives. Not just once, but many times.
Losing a job, becoming ill, being hurt in a broken or painful relationship, or being accused by others can all act as fiery furnaces. Demands are placed on us from every angle – kids, husbands, wives, work, parish, neighbors and any number of others. We often desperately lack sleep, and perhaps even our nutrition and self-care suffer as well. Things can “heat up” around us to the point that we feel we haven’t a bit of strength or resolve left. Our patience, stamina, concentration, and even our holiness are tested to the extreme.
Faith in God, faith in prayer, faith in others, and faith in ourselves are all tested in this fiery furnace.
At these times, the evil one pressures us the hardest to give up and give in. Like King Nebuchadnezzar, he wants to weaken our resolve so that we turn from God and betray our faith. We may be tempted toward resentment of our loved ones, of the vows we’ve taken, and the promises we’ve made. Fear can lead to doubt – in our own abilities and in God’s power. It is easy to get caught up in the flames of doubt, despair, anger, and resentment when we are at our lowest points.
The three young Israelites are models for us to follow. No matter what threat was flung at them, they refused to succumb to defeat and fear. The fires of the furnace couldn’t shake them, even when it had been heated to seven times its usual temperature. The fiery furnace was no obstacle for them because they believed in God.
These men were true to God. They did not choose to bow down to the king. Their decision was right, despite the danger it posed to them. Despite all these threats and their king’s rage, they remained faithful to God.
They knew they would be thrown in the fire. Things got even worse for them. As a result of the king's fury, his countenance changed; the furnace heated seven times hotter, and it was so hot that even the men who threw them in, died.
But the king, working on his basic math skills, finds a problem for himself - there was an extra person in the furnace. Who was the fourth person? An angel. God walked with them in the fiery furnace, not leaving them alone.
God came through for them. God will come through for you, as he did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In the midst of our trials or in the world to come, we have no idea how God will accomplish this through a miracle, but be sure God is faithful, and he will come through.
Father Boby John, C.S.C., is a dedicated priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, ordained in 2008. Rooted in the vibrant culture of Kerala, India, he answered a profound calling to serve among tribal communities in Northeast India for thirteen years as a pastor and educator. A scholar and servant-leader, he holds a master's degree in Educational Management and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. He now brings his pastoral heart and academic expertise to his dual role as Co-Director of Family Rosary USA and Chaplain at The Father Peyton Center of Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton, Massachusetts.
