Thoughts for the Day

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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

During Advent we shall look at the people, places and symbols that invite us to prepare for the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas. They will not necessarily occur in the right order! Today we look at 'The Messenger'

The Prophet Malachi knew about messengers. His name likely meant "My messenger", ie God's messenger. It was presumably a pseudonym. He lived around 300 years later than Isaiah, in Judah, just after the time that Nehemiah had been trying to rebuild Jerusalem when the Persians allowed them to return from their exile in Babylon. So we're looking at around 460-430 years before Jesus.

Life was hard for the people economically, and because of the continued sniping from those opposed to their work of rebuilding the Temple (see Nehemiah 1-5). Malachi feels that many people are short-changing God, for their men are marrying pagan wives and refusing to pay what is owed to God. Malach tries to encourage the faithful by pointing out their special relationship with God, but he is not believed. They feel that life is unfair, for the wicked seem to get away with their wickedness. Malachi prophecies that things will change. There will be a 'Day of the Lord', a day when God will intervene, for He is coming to restore justice. He will send a messenger ahead to prepare His way and he will "come suddenly to His Temple". The word "suddenly" is ominous, for He is coming to purify the people - to get rid of their impurities, that is their sinfulness. His words indicate suffering and judgement of the people.

So it was that the rumours would grow about someone who was coming to save God's people, which inevitably led to various people being declaimed as the "Messenger" or the "Messiah". With the arrival of John the Baptist four hundred years later it was to swell to gigantic proportions and draw down the might of Rome. For us it also brings a warning. Jesus has said He will return to judge the earth! Are we ready if He comes now? If not can we use the rest of Advent to become ready?

Lord Jesus Christ,
like the people of Malachi's time
we too can find life difficult -
in our case from economic hardship,
or the worries over global warming,
or concerns over international crises.
We too can hear the derogatory remarks
made against our belief in You.
Help us to keep to the rule of
loving You and our neighbour,
that we may be ready for Your return
whenever that may occur.
Amen.