Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 - Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Advent
[Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24 and Luke 1:57-66]But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For e is like the refiner's fire, or like the fuller's lye. He will sit refining and purifying , and he will purify the sons of Levi........
Oh my! This passage from the prophet Malachi makes me want to jump up and find my CD of Handel's MESSIAH so that I can hear the wonderful chorus, "And he shall purify...." How did Handel manage to make something almost terrifying into something quite majestic? Purification is not something we come at very joyfully! It has the ring of hard scrubbing and strong soap about it. The actual image has to do with refining ore with great heat! Is that what we want for Christmas? The fact is that many people undergo some fairly difficult trials in this season. These can have the effect of focusing one's attention on what is truly important about the celebration instead of what is consumer-oriented! Others take the opportunity in Catholic tradition to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Others manage their twice (maybe) a year attendance at Mass and make a resolution to do better! Parents (like Joseph and Mary) with a newborn realize that their marriage is no longer about the two of them, but also about the new life that has been born! Purification has many faces! Ask Scrooge! AMEN