This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
Sin is complicated, endlessly twisted and perverse. It can take many shapes, just as the desecration of a beautiful piece of art can occur in as many haphazard forms as chaos can casually cause.
The forms virtue takes, on the other hand, are much more refined and less random, just as an exquisite work of art is fruit of the artist’s studied and careful strokes.
The sin we see on the part of the Pharisees in the gospel is just one of the endless ugly, random embodiments of disobedience to God. In their case, they obstinately refuse His only Son, in the flesh–no matter what miracles He works, no matter what mercy He shows, no matter how compelling and eloquent His words.
The faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the first reading, on the other hand, shows forth as something simple, straightforward, beautiful, and luminous. They simply say “yes” to God, in the most difficult possible circumstance. There is really nothing fancy or novel about it. It takes on similar form to so many other “yeses” in the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David…up to and including Mary’s “Let it be done unto me according to your word.”
But like a beautiful work of art, and in stark contrast to the turpitude of the Pharisees, the “yes” of the three men–with its foundation of absolute trust in God–shines forth like the sun. The one “like a son of God” who appears in the furnace with them is a sharing in God’s power and glory, which He grants to them as a reward for their obedience.
Sometimes, we dream of the glories of this world, in all their manifold complexity. We would like our name in lights, we would like to be at the top and in charge. Sometimes we follow all of the circuitous routes, including sordid and sinful routes, in pursuit of this goal.
True glory, on the other hand, is so much simpler, more beautiful, more luminous. All that is necessary is to join ourselves to God in prayer and the sacraments, and strive to follow His will and inspirations each day. Sometimes this may seem complicated, but it isn’t. It is merely a question of giving an unconditional “yes,” over and over again, and trusting that He will provide the illumination and fortitude to carry through with that “yes.”
As with the three in the furnace, the reward for this simple faithfulness is a share in the very divinity of God itself. Adopted as God’s children and able to call God “Father” as Jesus did in today’s gospel, we receive the glorious power to walk through the fires of this world untouched.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Sin is complicated; obedience is simple. Ask Jesus to free you from the burden of worrying about figuring everything out exhaustively–to free you to focus on the simplicity of the loving “yes.” Ask Him with great confidence to take over all the detail, and to fill you with absolute trust in Him.
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