WEDNESDAY REFLECTION
Mid-week Reflection
24th March 2021
Nebuchadnezzar, or Nabucodonosor! A great name that…but, sadly, not a great person. Verdi called him Nabucco. It was the opera that put Verdi on the map. The opera follows the plight of the Jews as they are assaulted, conquered and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. A good number of years ago, along with Fr. Duggan and Fr. Murray (both former Chaplains of St Ninian’s High School) I went with great excitement to the Arena in Verona and we were looking forward to the best-known number from the opera, the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate” / “Fly, thought, on golden wings.” It’s such a treat to hear and usually is given an encore. Not this time, however. At least, not for us. I was suffering from dehydration and had to be carted off to the hospital; depriving us all of the magnificent chorus with exiles singing about their homeland. Anyway, Nebuchadnezzar was guilty of idolatry and thus broke the First Commandment. It is always wrong and foolish to worship a false God. It usually leads to worship of ourselves. Jesus taught that authentic and lasting freedom comes from adherence to the truth. More significant than this teaching, however, is that Jesus revealed Himself to be Truth incarnate.
Monsignor Monaghan
