Today’s first reading comes from the book of Daniel. As we know, there are certain books in the Old Testament that are included in the Catholic Bible but are excluded from the Protestant Bible. Today’s verses from Daniel fall into that category. The context of this reading takes place when King Nebuchadnezzar had set up a golden statue in Babylon for the people to worship. The people are summoned by the king for its dedication, where they are asked to fall prostrate in front of the statue at the sound of musical instruments playing. The king gave instructions that anyone who would not worship the statue would be thrown into a fiery furnace. The men who were Jewish officials refused to worship the statue: Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. When asked to explain themselves, that stated that they would not serve or worship this idol that had been set up before them. Enraged, the king asked that the furnace be made hotter than usual. The three men were thrown into the furnace with all their clothes on. Rather than being burned up, they were seen walking in the flames, praying aloud. The prayer that they prayed constitutes today’s first reading. The king is amazed as to how the men survive the fire. In fact, they see four figures marching around in the fire in the furnace, not three. Obviously, the fourth is an angel from God sent to protect these young men. In awe, the king orders them to have their lives saved and to be taken out of the furnace. It is amazing what faith can do, isn’t it?
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