Reading 99 • December 21
Today's Scripture
Malachi 3:1–7
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight — indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But 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; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, “How shall we return?” (NRSV)
Reflection
In both Jewish and Christian Bibles, Malachi concludes the prophets — for us, that means his are the last words we hear before Matthew’s Gospel, so we might easily hear his description of a coming messenger and immediately jump to “that’s John the Baptist!” Others, such as our Jewish siblings, will hear in Malachi’s words a promise that someone is coming to “clean up” the community, so that, once again, the people follow God’s laws, live with honesty and faithfulness, and protect the most vulnerable: workers, widows, orphans, and immigrants.
Either way, the call is a good one: “‘Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’” This is the question for our time, just as it was in the times of Malachi and John the Baptist.
And it’s a personal question. If we respond “God, I don’t have the time to oppress anyone right now, not to mention engage in adultery or sorcery!” we miss the invitation. Even if we haven’t turned from God in dramatic ways, we deepen our relationship with God when we name and stand against the places in our world where injustice occurs. We can do this no matter who we are: an important executive who challenges the company’s inequitable compensation strategy, an individual homeowner who fairly pays those who provide their housecleaning or gardening services, or anyone who calls their congressperson to advocate for SNAP benefits or healthcare legislation. We can all keep God’s statutes in these ways.
It can be frustrating. After all, Malachi likely wrote more than 2500 years ago, and we aren’t there yet. But, as Malachi writes, “‘For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.’” God hasn’t given up on us, and as long as we have life and breath, we are invited, again and again, to return to God.
Prayer
Holy God, once again you are breaking through and into our lives. Guide us to hear your call so that we may fully return to you and embrace you as our own. Amen.
Written by Amy Pagliarella, Parish Associate for Caring Ministries
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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