Home > Lenten Blog 2024

Roughing It

March 20, 2024

Daniel 3:14–20,24–28  |  John 8:31–42  |  Canticle [2] or 13

“Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *

you are worthy of praise; glory to you.” (Canticle 13)

Shadrach Meshach, and  Abednego may never have had a face-to-face encounter with the God of their fathers, but they knew him well enough to know that bowing down before the graven image of an earthly king would not be something that God would take lightly. To their thinking, the risk of receiving God’s wrath outweighed the risk enduring the fury of a human king. It didn’t seem to matter to them that punishment was in the form of a fiery furnace stoked to seven times the normal temperature.

When asked by Nebuchadnezzar to defend this choice, their reply rings with a little less confidence in their particular desired outcome (being delivered from death in the furnace), than in their understanding of who their god is. They insist that their commitment of service to God will remain steadfast despite the worst outcome; the “but if not…”  They realize that God, not they, are the heroes in the story. In the end, their faith is rewarded and even Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the worthiness of this amazing god.

Would we be reading this story if there had been a different outcome? So often in our own lives we’ll face a challenge with the righteous confidence that God is able to intervene, only to be left with disappointment or even devastation of prayers that seem unanswered.  How can we praise God, the loving parent when our hearts are broken? 

Sometimes loving parents have to speak uncomfortable truths. These truths are usually difficult to hear.  I imagine that the people involved in today’s gospel reading felt more than a little unsettled in their interaction with Jesus.  They were Jews, who “believed in” Jesus. Yet, when he tells that “if they continue in (his) word they will be set free”, they bristle. Was Jesus comparing them to slaves?   How dare this Jesus insult them this way-they were Abraham’s offspring!

Have you ever sensed that you’ve missed the mark on something important to God?  Is it just me, or is it hard to respond to that kind of reproach without a little indignation, or a little more self-doubt?

During Lent, we are called into the wilderness. We’re not on a glamping trip. We’re called to rough it, to dig deep. This is the place to name and face fears, be honest about our doubts, and reveal our wounds so that by the Spirit we can heal, recalibrate, and continue to grow. It’s the wilderness, so it’s not going to be easy! Take heart, God adores us and is waiting to journey with each one of us. Hang on tight. Easter is on the other side. 

I waited patiently for the Lord;

    He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

    out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

    and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

    a hymn of praise to our God (Psalm 40:1-3)

Deb Dioguardi