Daily Readings - Thu Dec 23 2021
Malachi
1Behold, I send my angel, and he will prepare the way before my face. And presently the Sovereign, whom you seek, and the angel of testimony, whom you desire, will arrive at his temple. Behold, he approaches, says the Lord of hosts2And who will be able to consider the day of his advent, and who will stand firm in order to see him? For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb3And he will sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he will purge the sons of Levi, and he will gather them like gold and like silver, and they will offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice4And the sacrifice of Judah and of Jerusalem will please the Lord, just as in the days of past generations, and as in the ancient years
Luke
57Now the time for Elizabeth to give birth arrived, and she brought forth a son58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and so they congratulated her59And it happened that, on the eighth day, they arrived to circumcise the boy, and they called him by his father’s name, Zechariah60And in response, his mother said: "Not so. Instead, he shall be called John.61And they said to her, "But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.62Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called63And requesting a writing tablet, he wrote, saying: "His name is John." And they all wondered64Then, at once, his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosened, and he spoke, blessing God65And fear fell upon all of their neighbors. And all these words were made known throughout all the hill country of Judea66And all those who heard it stored it up in their heart, saying: "What do you think this boy will be?" And indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of preparation and purification, central to our faith journey. The first reading from Malachi prophesies the coming of the Lord who will refine and purify His people, much like a refining fire. This prophecy is fulfilled in the Gospel through the birth of John the Baptist, who prepares the way for Jesus. Both readings emphasize the importance of readiness and purification, urging us to turn our hearts back to God.
The context of Malachi’s prophecy is one of calling the Israelites to return to their faith, using imagery common in prophetic literature to stress the necessity of spiritual cleansing. In Luke’s Gospel, the miraculous birth of John the Baptist highlights his role as the forerunner of Jesus, preparing the people to receive the Messiah. The naming of John, despite initial silence, underscores obedience to God’s will and the fulfillment of divine plans.
Applying these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to prepare our hearts for the Lord’s presence. This involves repentance and living justly, trusting in God’s plan even when it seems unconventional. The example of Zechariah and Elizabeth teaches us to trust God, even in unexpected circumstances. The moral lesson is clear: we must ready ourselves for the Lord’s coming through purification and trust, focusing on our spiritual growth and relationship with God.