(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: the names have a certain rhythm. The sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe and all the other musical instruments: this is something of an overkill for the complete orchestra. “Who is the God who can deliver you from my hands?”: there is no conceit in this guy’s family (he has all of it).
The passage we have today is the shorter version of the story of the three youth in the fiery furnace: it omits the prayer and the song of the youth. There are two versions of the story, the shorter one contained in the Hebrew scriptures and the longer one in the Septuagint Greek translation. The shorter version reads like a farce, a skit from SNL or Monte Python. It is memorable for the names of the youth, for the detailed list of musical instruments and for the grandiosity of the king.
Comedy is not bad even on the passages of Scripture. It helps us remember the passage. It pokes fun at people in power and, in doing this, pokes fun at our pretensions to power and prestige. We can be the heroes like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; at times we are the villain who thinks it easy to snatch people from the hand of God. At times we can be the orchestra with all the discordant sounds of the orchestra tuning up.
Comedy has a serious face. After we have laughed at, booed, and enjoyed the plight of the magnificent wonder, splendor and arrogance of the villain, we get to applaud God who works in quiet to save the youth and reveal God’s gentle might to the king. We come away, perhaps, with a greater appreciation of God and a better awareness of idiotic maneuvers we use in our bid to appear better than the rest. When we applaud God, we acknowledge God’s goodness and greatness. When we boo the villain, we see ourselves in the villain and resolve to change.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, with the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe and all the other musical instruments, are prepared to worship the one true God, who alone can save them from the hands of the arrogant grandiose king. We can be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.