The first reading tells the story of three servants of God standing up against a pretentious and powerful ruler. Their simple faith and trust in God gives them the wisdom not to engage in futile defence; rather, they sing and dance and praise God in disdain of torture. Once again, God proves to be always on the side of his faithful servants. God saves them and some hearts are changed.

Christians are often subject to verbal abuse and even physical attack by those whose thinking and actions revolve only around themselves. We do not serve them because these malicious and cowardly forces are incompatible with the love and justice which Jesus preached and which we practise. Still, such attacks are hurtful. We Christians, other than making clarifications for the sake of truth and, if necessary, defending ourselves, must learn to take to heart the words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the face of 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."