I remember reading The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare, when I was in middle school. At the beginning of the story, I couldn’t help thinking that the protagonist, 18-year-old Daniel, was quite the antihero. At first, he comes across as being awfully arrogant, prideful, and hot-tempered, and his actions are practically always driven by his selfish desire for revenge against the entire Roman nation. However, as the storyline progresses, it soon becomes evident that underneath Daniel’s rough and tough exterior beats the heart of a strong, courageous, and loyal young man who has endured much loss and suffering while still at a tender age. It can certainly take a second glance to notice Daniel’s charitable side, since he has learned to keep that part of him hidden from the world; but, little by little, we can see the true nobility of his character shine through, from the way he befriends the foreign slave Samson, to the way he takes care of his sister Leah after their grandmother dies. It is especially heart-warming to witness the special bond of friendship that develops between Daniel, Joel, and Joel’s twin sister, Malthace. These three spirited youths ultimately bring out the best in each other, as they selflessly shoulder each other’s burdens and unite together as family under the shared vow to fight “for God’s Victory.” In spite of his past hurts, Daniel slowly but surely opens his heart to the people around him to form meaningful relationships and to overcome hatred with love.

I find it very inspiring that The Bronze Bow is set in Palestine, Jerusalem, during the time of Jesus, when the Jewish people are under the oppression of the Romans. As we are given a secret glimpse inside Daniel’s heart and mind, we can come to share in his sense of righteous indignation and hunger for justice. However, we also come face to face with Our Lord Himself through Daniel, as our hero’s personal encounter with Jesus serves as a reflection of our own day to day struggles, which ultimately teach us to lay our burdens down at Jesus’ feet and surrender our whole hearts to Him. So, I invite you to come and journey with Daniel as he discovers what it truly means to love oneself and to love one’s neighbor, all for the love of God.

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