Wednesday of the Fifth week of Lent

Book of Daniel

King Nebuchadnezzar said: "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my god, or worship the golden statue that I set up?
Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments; otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace; and who is the God that can deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "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 which you set up."
Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace.
King Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" "Assuredly, O king," they answered.
"But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God."
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

Book of Daniel

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
and blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim;
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "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."
They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?"
Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.
So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free.
I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you.
I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence; then do what you have heard from the Father."
They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham.
But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this.
You are doing the works of your father!" (So) they said to him, "We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God."
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.

St. Gladys(Hermit (5th century))

Saint Gladys Hermit (5th century) Gladys was born in Wales in the fifth century. She was one of twenty-four children of Brychan of Brecknock, the wife of Saint Gundleus and also mother to Saints Cadoc and Keyna. It was recorded that the family converted following the conversion, prayers, examples and by exhortations of their son. Together, Gladys and Gundleus lived an austere life. When Gundleus passed away, Gladys moved to Pencanau in Bassaleg. She lived as a hermit, but the cult of her holiness sprang from her heroic and saintly life. She was canonized owing to the miracles that proceeded from her intercession.

Sts. Jonas(Barachisius and Co, Martyrs (4th century))

SAINTS JONAS, BARACHISIUS and their Companions Martyrs (4th century) In his eighteenth year as king, King Sapor of Persia persecuted the Christians and destroyed their churches and monasteries. Jonas and Barachisius, two brothers from Beth-Asa, went to Hubaham to encourage and console the Christians on death row. It is recorded that they spoke with at least nine Christian martyrs. After the executions, Jonas and Barachisius were arrested. Local authorities entreated them to obey the Persian king and worship the sun, moon, fire and water. However, the brothers answered that it was more reasonable to obey the immortal King of heaven and earth than a mortal prince. For declining to worship spirits who are not God, Jonas was beaten with knotty clubs and rods and set in a freezing pond with a cord tied to his foot. Barachisius had two red-hot iron plates and two red-hot hammers pressed under each arm, and molten lead dropped into his nostrils and eyes. Afterward, he was carried to prison and hung by one foot. Despite the torture, the brothers remained steadfast. New and more horrible torments were devised to break their will, but the brothers expired without renouncing their faith. Sts. Jonas and Barachisius lived the small moments as heroically as the great ones.

St. Mark of Arethusa(Bishop (+ c. 365))

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2023 / Catholic Missal of march 2023