Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Lectionary: 199

Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.

Malachi assures us during these days of Advent as he assured his contemporaries long before the Birth of the Messiah, "Yes, he is coming!" But he also reminds us that the Day will challenge everyone, and particularly those who believe -- or think they believe -- in the mercy of God. 

You might be surprised. You might not know what to expect. You might be deeply disappointed. "Who will endure the day of his coming?" 

in her book, A Wrinkle in Time, on the planet Camazotz, the time-travelling children of Madeleine L'Engle watch inhabitants continually, mindlessly building a city of dystopian, enforced conformity. They apparently expect something like our "City of God" although, once it's built, it will know nothing of God. L'Enge's children, of course, see as any child does, the futility of their frenetic work. 

Malachi reminds us that our troubles might not end with the appearance of the Savior. There may be a period of severe testing, similar to the refining process of gold or silver. The slag and dross in our hearts will be purged, and many of our precious things will be forgotten. Remember the fate of Gollum who sank into the fiery abyss, he could not let go of his Precious. 

Nor should we expect to bargain for the precious things we hold most dear, thinking that surely God must agree that, "This is priceless, I must have it!" 

If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? (Luke 14:26-28)

I have seen grandparents compromise their faith when their adult children suggested they might cut them off from their grandchildren. It's very hard at Christmas time.

As we study the Cross of Christ, gazing upon it as Saint Clare urges us, the Spirit gently teaches us to surrender everything to God:

Come to me.... 

Take my yoke upon you, 

learn from me, 

for I am meek and humble of heart. 

You will find rest for yourselves.

For my yoke is easy; and my burden, light.