Daily Readings - Fri Dec 23 2022
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
The readings today guide us to reflect on preparation and purification in our spiritual journey. In Malachi, we hear of God sending a messenger to prepare the way and refine His people, emphasizing the need for hearts ready to receive the Lord. This prophecy is fulfilled in Luke through John the Baptist, who embodies the role of the messenger. His birth and naming signify a new beginning, breaking from tradition to follow God's will, as seen when Zechariah, regaining his voice, praises God.
These readings remind us that preparation is not just a one-time event but a continuous process. Just as John prepared the way for Jesus, we are called to prepare our hearts daily. This involves self-reflection and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance, allowing ourselves to be refined and purified. The story of John's naming teaches us to trust in God's plan, even when it challenges our expectations.
In our daily lives, let us embrace this call to preparation and purification. May we, like John, be courageous in following God's will, even when it leads us beyond our comfort zones. As we journey through life, may we continually seek to refine our hearts and minds, ensuring they are always open to God's presence and guidance.