Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent (Homily/Sermon)
Theme: “Faith in the Fire: The Truth Will Set You Free”
Readings: Daniel 3:14–20, 91–92, 95 | Daniel 3:52–56 (Canticle) | John 8:31–42

🌅

There are days when life feels like a furnace—hot with pressure, fear, disappointment, or uncertainty. Today’s Scriptures remind us that faith is not about avoiding the fire—it’s about discovering God in the fire with you.

😂 

A Sunday school teacher asked, “Why did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego not burn?” A child replied, “Because they were too cool for the flames!” 😄
Well… close! The truth is—they were not alone. God was with them.

📖 

In Daniel 3, three young men refuse to bow down to a false god. They're thrown into a fiery furnace, but the fire doesn’t consume them. Why? Because God joined them in the flames.

In John 8, Jesus speaks to people who had “believed in Him,” yet struggled to accept the fullness of His truth. He says:

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

But freedom isn’t just political or physical—it’s spiritual. It’s the freedom to live with integrity, to say no to sin, to walk in God’s light—even when the world says, “bow down.”

✝ Eucharist

In the Eucharist, Jesus comes into our “fires”—our struggles, illnesses, and disappointments—not to take them away instantly, but to walk with us through them. He is Emmanuel—God with us, even in the furnace.

❓ Question for Reflection

What is my “fiery furnace” right now—and have I invited Jesus into it?

🛠️ Daily Practical Application

🔹 Spend time with Scripture today. Even one verse can strengthen you.
🔹 If someone near you is going through the fire, be present. Don't fix—just walk with.
🔹 Refuse to bow to fear, hatred, or despair. Speak faith into your day.

💔 For Those Who Encounter Difficulties

If you're feeling the heat of life—financial pressure, loneliness, or grief—take courage. God is not absent; He’s right there with you. The same God who stood with the three men in Babylon stands with you in Winterveld, Limpopo, Khayelitsha, or wherever you are.

🕊️ What Can I Do During the Jubilee Year?

As a Pilgrim of Hope in 2025:

  • Be someone’s fourth companion in the fire.

  • Don’t just pray for people—pray with them.

  • Start or join a small group that meets regularly to read Scripture and share life.

🌟 

🔥 Faith doesn’t guarantee a life without fire.
It guarantees God’s presence in the fire.
That’s where freedom begins—not when the fire stops, but when you realise you’re not alone.

🇿🇦 

In our land of resilience, where many walk through fires of poverty, GBV, corruption, and broken systems, our hope is not in avoiding difficulty, but in knowing God still shows up in the middle of it all.

💬 Inspiration Quote

“The furnace didn’t burn them—it revealed God’s presence.”

🙏 

Lord Jesus,
when life gets hot and heavy,
stand with me like You did with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Help me to walk in Your truth,
to be free from fear, and to live with bold, quiet faith.
May I be a light to others still walking through the flames.
Amen.



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