Daily Readings - Sat Dec 23 2017
Malachi
1"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.2But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap.3He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,4and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.
Luke
57When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,60but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John."61They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name."62Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John."64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.65The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.66Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on purification, obedience, and the transformative power of God's will in our lives. In Malachi, we hear of a messenger who will refine and purify the people, preparing them for the Lord's arrival. This messenger, Elijah, is to restore harmony between generations, emphasizing the importance of right relationships and a humble heart. The Gospel then presents John the Baptist, whose birth signifies a new beginning. His naming, despite family traditions, highlights Zechariah and Elizabeth's obedience to God's plan, illustrating how surrendering to divine will can lead to profound spiritual renewal.
These readings connect through themes of preparation and transformation. Malachi sets the stage for a purifying messenger, while Luke shows John as the fulfillment of this prophecy, preparing the way for Jesus. Both emphasize the need for openness to God's plan and the importance of right relationships, whether within families or communities.
In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to embrace purification and obedience. Just as John prepared the way for Jesus, we are called to clear our hearts and minds to receive God's grace. By fostering harmonious relationships and remaining open to God's will, we participate in His transformative work. Let us seek to be refined by God, allowing His light to shine through us, guiding others as John did, and trusting in His plan for our lives.