Give glory and eternal praise to Him!

All this last week of the church year, in our responsorial psalm at Mass we've been exulting with all creation in our Creator. Our song is the third chapter of Daniel, a well-known canticle of praise and thanksgiving from the Old Testament that urges us to praise and exalt God above all forever.

Why? Because, as this canticle enumerates: God is praiseworthy ... forever glorious is his name ... he is just in all he has done, all his deeds are faultless, all his ways right, all his judgments proper ... he alone is the Lord God, glorious over the whole world, exalted above all forever ... he is good, for his mercy endures forever ... his signs are great and his wonders mighty ... his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures through all generations.

If we ever have reason to question God's goodness and mercy, to doubt his power and might, to wonder if he really does love and care for us, this is the song to sing! After all, this canticle comes from the lips and hearts of three men sentenced to death for refusing to serve the god of their king. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, confident in their God, stand up to King Nebuchadnezzar, who sets up a golden statue for his subjects to worship. Not only do these three brave men refuse to bend the knee to any god but theirs, they also inform the king that they have no need to defend themselves in this matter. They are ready to die for their beliefs, so much so that they boldly declare that even if their God will not save him, they will remain true to him. The king orders them thrown into the white-hot furnace, which has been heated "seven times more than usual" – and they walk about in the flames, singing to God and blessing the Lord.

How Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego pray is a wonderful model for us, especially when we are in distress. First they acclaim God's greatness and justice, next they acknowledge their sinfulness and ask forgiveness, and then they renew their resolve to follow their God. Finally, they burst forth into praise and thanksgiving, calling upon all creation to join them in blessing the God whose mercy endures forever. What an excellent way for us to end the church year!

Blessed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name! ALLELUIA! (Daniel 3:52)