Daniel 3: two anchors in times of fear and chaos - 34th week Tuesday 2017

What do you do, or more specifically what does a Christian do in times of chaos, what does a Christian do when fear strikes our gut and heart?  Ambush in Maasin, the threat of terrorism, the threat of a revolutionary government, the ouster of the Mayor, the never-ending war on drugs, the extrajudicial killings where no one knows who and where and when it will strike next.  I am not discounting the other realities like cancer in the family, sickness and death, unemployment and marital conflicts, etc.  The point is what does a Christian do in these situations of fear?

A Christian has to anchor himself to two things.

First anchor.  When Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall he clearly said to the king, God in whose hand is your life breath, God in whose hand I the whole course of your life …  What does this mean?  Daniel is reminding the people and the king himself that God is greater than this mighty king.  God is greater than the chaos he brings.

Before the Jews came people believe that things in this world just happen.  Things just happen – swerte, malas.  But the Jews through Abraham and Moses taught us that God is in charge of history.  And this is our first anchor – God is in charge of history, our life, the lives of people and nations.  This is the truth that we hold – every ruler will pass away, all governments do not last forever.  Only God’s kingdom remains, and little by little by our goodness and love this kingdom will one day prevail.  Persist in doing good, speak the truth, be generous and compassionate, stop the hatred.  You are in God’s kingdom and you can help it prevail.

Second anchor.  Our responsorial psalm today taken from the same Book of the Prophet Daniel, exhorts us to pray.  This is our second anchor, prayer.  Prayer helps us to situate ourselves in God’s providence, in God loving rule and guidance.  Without prayer everything happens by chance, everything is just coincidence, an accident, an unplanned event.  But when we pray everything becomes part of God’s plan and purpose.

I thought I will be given an assignment, in fact I was 90% sure I will be given a parish assignment.  And then I was told I will have to wait a little bit longer.  I was hurt, I was angry, I could not sleep for two nights.  Pero after praying over it, sang gindala ko na ang sakit sang buot, ang frustrations dira sa santos nga misa nga akon ginaselebrar, things just fall into place.  Makita mo na ini nga mga balatyagon nga bahin sang daku nga plano Dios para sa iya katawhan.  Nadula na ang "diin na ya ang AKON, maano AKO ya, ang AKON ya!"  Prayer puts things in the perspective of God's plan and providence for his people.

Two anchors in times of chaos and fear – First, God is in charge, no matter what happens believe that God is in charge.  Second anchor, pray - situate yourself and everything that happens in your life in the providence and loving plan of God.