Daily Readings - Fri Feb 02 2018

First Reading - Malachi 3.1-4

¹Behold, I send my angel, and he will prepare the way before my face. And presently the Sovereign, whom you seek, and the angel of testimony, whom you desire, will arrive at his temple. Behold, he approaches, says the Lord of hosts²And who will be able to consider the day of his advent, and who will stand firm in order to see him? For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb³And he will sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he will purge the sons of Levi, and he will gather them like gold and like silver, and they will offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice⁴And the sacrifice of Judah and of Jerusalem will please the Lord, just as in the days of past generations, and as in the ancient years

Gospel - Luke 2.22-32

Luke

Chapter 2

²²And after the days of her purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord²³just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "For every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,²⁴and in order to offer a sacrifice, according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.²⁵And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and God-fearing, awaiting the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was with him²⁶And he had received an answer from the Holy Spirit: that he would not see his own death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord²⁷And he went with the Spirit to the temple. And when the child Jesus was brought in by his parents, in order to act on his behalf according to the custom of the law²⁸he also took him up, into his arms, and he blessed God and said²⁹"Now you may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lord, according to your word³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation³¹which you have prepared before the face of all peoples³²the light of revelation to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on themes of preparation, purification, and the fulfillment of God's promises. In Malachi, we hear of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord, a refining fire that purifies and cleanses. This passage, written during a time of spiritual complacency, calls the people to return to God with sincerity. In Luke, we witness the presentation of Jesus in the temple, where Simeon, a man of deep faith, recognizes the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. This event not only fulfills Jewish customs but also Simeon's personal promise from the Holy Spirit. These readings are intricately connected, as Malachi's prophecy of purification finds its fulfillment in Jesus. The refining fire symbolizes the transformative power of Christ, who brings light and salvation to all nations. Simeon's encounter with Jesus exemplifies the patience and trust required to await God's promises, encouraging us to remain faithful and attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in our lives. In our daily lives, these readings remind us of the importance of spiritual purification and readiness. Just as the Israelites needed to align their hearts with God's will, we too must examine our actions and intentions. Let us embrace the transformative power of Christ, allowing Him to refine us. May we, like Simeon, trust in God's plan and recognize the divine light in our midst. Through faith and trust, we can live as beacons of hope, reflecting God's glory to the world.