Thursday 23 December 2021

Today is Thursday the 23rd of December in the fourth week of Advent.

Kate and William James sing an arrangement of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' by Bob Chilcott.

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Malachi.

Malachi 3:1-4
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.

The name Malachi means messenger.  The prophet is a messenger of God.  This is a God who is always compassionate, always truthful and always wanting what we most need.  

Sometimes, what we most need is truthful, ultimately kind, challenge . . . Might you be in need of this at the moment?

Listen again to this reading and let yourself feel the seriousness of God’s intentions.

In the challenges we will face over the coming year, what grace do you need from God to help you?  Ask for that grace.

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus