Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all. “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Malachi 3:16 – 4:2
Mostly at Christmas time our thoughts don’t go near darker themes. We try to imagine the perfect White
Christmas with snow, tinsel, garland, and plenty of gifts under the
tree. Santa, Rudolph, and gingerbread
houses are in the foreground. We want to
see nativity scenes, children with rosy cheeks and happy anticipation. And Hallmark gets a spike in their sales and TV
movies.
So, why does Malachi show up in our Lectionary readings just nine days
before the big day?
And why all this business about
judgment, and being spared, as if by the skin of our teeth? Burning furnaces of judgment, and wickedness
consumed like straw, or stray branches, roots…up in smoke? Well, as was shared with me by a wise teacher,
people need to see how dark it is before they’ll be interested in finding
the light. That darkness is the
setting in which Jesus, eternal God, entered time and space. The darkness was great; judgment did loom as
in the days of Noah when God’s flood decimated his wandering creation. Those obedient children Malachi mentions are like
Noah and family, obedient children in a sea of darkness.
The prophet draws the contrast between those of the dark wickedness, and
God’s obedient children who will be spared.
They will leap like calves turned out to the pasture, released, free,
and overflowing with joy.
Perhaps, like me, there was a time when you were forgiven by a friend you’d
wronged. Perhaps you were facing a harsh
penalty of some kind and, at the last moment, you were liberated, set-free, no
strings attached.
Maybe you did the right, obedient thing when nobody was looking, and you
thought it went unnoticed; then, from the most unlikely place came a thank
you – your kindness meant everything.
The joy associated with such a moment that affects eternity so deeply,
is almost indescribable! It is at such
times our souls leap like a Jack Russell dog, springs on the feet, reaching for
the sky.
Why Malachi? Jesus came to the
darkness, but in that manger, there was wrapped in swaddling cloths all the promise
of that kind of joy. He was the light
that would give notice to the darkness that its’ presence was no longer
required.
For You Today
No matter what kind of darkness has tried
to overcome your life this year (or every year since you can remember), the
light that shines through the darkness, and dispels the darkness, is still
shining.
And when you invite the light into even
the darkest recesses of your darker self (and some would say especially
the dark places)…God appears, and wickedness is no match for His light.
It can be different this Christmas;
Malachi said so. So…get ready to jump
for joy!
Title image, Pixabay.com and W Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©
For other posts on this passage see: Righteous Rising and
Emptying
the Church
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