Daily Readings - Wed Dec 23 2020
Malachi
1"Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.3He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.4Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
Luke
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.58And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.59And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,60but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John."61And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name."62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.63And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.64And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,66and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through the prophetic words of Malachi and the narrative of Luke, each offering insights into preparation and divine fulfillment. Malachi foretells the coming of a messenger who will purify and prepare the way for the Lord, using the imagery of fire to symbolize this transformation. This prophecy is fulfilled in Luke's account of John the Baptist, who embodies the spirit of Elijah, preparing the hearts of the people for the Messiah. The naming of John and the restoration of Zechariah's speech underscore the miraculous and divine nature of John's role.
The context of these readings reveals the anticipation of a savior. Malachi's prophecy, from the Old Testament, speaks to a people awaiting redemption, emphasizing the need for purification and righteousness. Luke's narrative, part of the New Testament's infancy stories, sets the stage for Jesus' arrival, highlighting John's role as the precursor who readies the people's hearts.
These readings connect through the theme of preparation and fulfillment. John, as the Elijah figure, bridges the Old and New Testaments, illustrating the continuity of God's plan. This connection invites us to reflect on our own preparation for encountering God, emphasizing the need for openness to God's will and messengers.
In our daily lives, this message calls us to purification and readiness. Just as John prepared the way, we are invited to clear our hearts and minds for God's presence. Trusting in God's plan, even when it seems unexpected, is crucial. The moral lesson here is one of preparation and trust, urging us to be open to God's transformative work in our lives, much like the refining fire described by Malachi.
May we, like John, embrace our role in preparing the way for the Lord, both in our personal journeys and in our communities, trusting in the divine plan that unfolds in our lives.