Daily Readings - Mon Dec 23 2019
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 the themes of preparation, purification, and the fulfillment of God’s plan. In the first reading from Malachi, we hear about the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord. This messenger is none other than Elijah, the prophet, who will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers. Malachi emphasizes that this preparation involves purification and cleansing, much like refining fire, so that we may offer sacrifices pleasing to the Lord. The prophet’s words are a call to repentance and readiness, reminding us that God’s justice and mercy are about to be revealed in a profound way.
In the Gospel, we witness the birth of John the Baptist, the one who would fulfill Malachi’s prophecy by preparing the way for Jesus. The story of John’s naming is filled with signs and wonders—Zechariah’s silence is broken, and he proclaims the name given by God. This moment is a testament to the power of obedience and trust in God’s plan. Just as Elizabeth and Zechariah trusted in God’s mercy, we too are called to trust in His will, even when it challenges our expectations. The neighbors’ question, “What will this child be?” hints at the larger purpose John will serve, pointing us to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus Christ.
These readings remind us that our lives are part of a larger story, one of preparation and purification. Like Elijah and John the Baptist, we are called to be instruments of God’s plan, turning hearts to Him and to one another. In our daily lives, this means being open to God’s will, seeking purification through repentance, and building relationships rooted in love and reconciliation. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we preparing our hearts for the Lord’s coming? Are we allowing God to refine us like gold and silver, so that we may shine as witnesses of His love? May we, like John the Baptist, be faithful in our mission to point others to Christ, the true Light of the world.