2 February 2022 The Presentation of the Lord
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?
Malachi 3:1-4, NRSV
On the day that we celebrate the Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple, it may seem strange to hear threatening words about purification and judgement. However, as Simeon the prophet foretold, this child would be the one to bring about God’s promise of salvation. Malachi’s prophecy goes on to warn that the coming Messiah will bring challenge; he will be like the refiner’s fire and the fuller’s alkali. In the refiner’s fire, metal was heated very intensely in order to bring precious metals to light. The fuller’s alkali was a harsh treatment given to new cloth to clean and bleach it. The implication is that those who choose to follow Christ must expect to be changed – to have our faults exposed so that they can be cleansed and so that we can be reformed.
- Why does the prophet ask, “Who can endure the day of his coming”?
- What is your experience of allowing yourself to be changed or reformed?
Spend some time reflecting on the faults/sins that prevent you from living as fully as God wants. Be open to any prompting about what you can do to bring about change.
