By Steve Hall
Our readings for today tell two stories, stories of cups being full and stories of cups being empty. Actually, we hear of both full and empty in each story. Throughout life, we all share in highs and lows — the cup that overflows and the cup that seems bottomless in its emptiness.
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Matthew 18:21-35
This morning’s reading from the Old Testament is part of a story most are familiar with. However, a brief refresher will help put this text in the broader context of events. A summary of the preceding events will be drawn from verses from the Sacred text.
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoi′akim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.” (Daniel 1:1) He conquered Jerusalem and exiled many to Babylon.“Then the king commanded Ash′penaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, handsome and skilful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding, learning, and competent to serve in the king’s palace, and to teach them the letters and language of the Chalde’ans.” (Daniel 1:3-4)“Among these were Daniel, Hanani’ah, Mish’a-el, and Azari’ah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshaz’zar, Hananiah he called Shad’rach, Misha-el he called Me’shach, and Azariah he called Abed’nego.” (Daniel 1:6-7)“As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hanani’ah, Mish’a-el, and Azari’ah; therefore they stood before the king.” (Daniel 1:17-19”“Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shad’rach, Me’shach, and Abed’nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel remained at the king’s court.” (Daniel 2:48-49)“King Nebuchadnez’zar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” (Daniel 3:1) But the exiled people of Israel had enemies; some went to the king.“You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:10-11)You can see where this is going. The king has given an order that Hanani’ah, Mish’a-el, and Azari’ah can not obey. Nebuchadnezzar is PO’d. So the furnace is prepared. The three are thrown into the fire. From within Azari’ah (now called Abed’nego) offers his prayer. We hear a portion of that prayer today.
Most of us, if not all of us, live a life with a cup that is somewhere between full and empty.
Occasionally, we are blessed and our cup overflows. We remember those times with joy. Some probably happened when we were very young. I occasionally recall a time when I was somewhere around three to five years old. We were at my grandparents’ house. It was spring. The sun was warm — not hot, but warm. The sky was blue. And I sat beneath a cherry tree in full bloom and fragrance, playing in a pile of sand. As I built sand castles, a gentle breeze would shower me with the flowers’ pink petals. What more could anyone ask?
Other such memories can also be recalled from the unfolding of years along my way. My cup in those spring hours was full to overflowing. But, from time to time, the cup would abruptly be empty.
When I was a little older than the cherry tree incident, I became fascinated with building model airplanes. You know the type: balsa wood pieces, smelly glue, detailed instructions. I had proudly accumulated about fifteen of these models when my parents invited some friends to visit. They had a couple of kids close to my age. Now, not everyone sees a model as something to be admired. To these new kids, the models were just another toy. What exciting things happen to airplanes? Runway accidents, mid-air collisions, and crashes in the wilderness. Such was the fate of all my models. I had no idea the bottom of my cup was so far down.
Our readings for today tell two stories, stories of cups being full and stories of cups being empty. Actually, we hear of both full and empty in each story. The tale from Nebuchadnezzar’s court begins with an empty cup. Jerusalem has fallen. Israel is defeated. The leadership is sent into exile. (That’s a pretty empty cup.) But then four young men of Israel are called to the king’s court to be properly trained and educated. Azariah is one of them. And the four are found to be superior to all other candidates, so they are promoted to high positions; Daniel remains directly in the king’s service while the other three take on government jobs. (Looks like the cup is being filled.)
The gospel tale follows that of Azari’ah in that the debtor’s cup was pretty much empty. But suddenly …his cup was full. “Moved with compassion, the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.”
But then, the forgiven servant fails to act with compassion toward a fellow servant who also has a debt problem. He had him thrown into debtors’ prison “until he paid back the debt.” But the master finds out and retracts the forgiveness previously offered. The original debtor then found his cup empty.
Now we could examine the faith of Hanani’ah, Mish’a-el, and Azari’ah. It’s really quite an amazing story. Likewise, we could examine the required seventy-seven times of forgiveness. Throughout life, we all share in highs and lows — the cup that overflows and the cup that seems bottomless in its emptiness. But what caught my attention was the behavior of the two men when their personal account was settled. After the rollercoaster of ups and downs, the king decides that the furnace will be Azari’ah’s fate. In response, Azari’ah sings the praises of God and asks for deliverance. After the debtor's downs and ups, the debtor responds by deciding that misery will be his fellow man’s fate.
The cherry tree blooms on a warm spring day. It was not through my power that such a thing happened. Similarly, others my age naturally saw models as toys and played with them accordingly. Neither was Azari’ah responsible for the king’s golden statue or the corresponding rule of worship. So too, the servant in debt to the master could not claim responsibility for the master’s compassion. Things happen. Many things. Some are filling. But not all.
So much of life is beyond me. What’s within my grasp is how I respond.