In today's first reading, Daniel 3: 14-20, 91-92, 92, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar set up as his god. The king was enraged with anger when the three men said to him: "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." The men were bound up and thrown into a furnace that was heated seven times more than usual. To the king's amazement, when he looks into the furnace, he sees four men walking among the flames. "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? ...I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God." None of them is harmed by the flames.
May you and I, as did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, trust God whenever we encounter "furnaces" in our lives and, in faith, embrace the challenge to do what is right. May we never forget that God stands by waiting of us to call upon Him for the strength we need to do His will. He is always at our side protecting us from being harmed by the Evil One.
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