Advent: The Messengers

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday, 4th Week of Advent, Year B, December 23rd, 2020

Texts: Mal. 3:1-4; 4:5-6; Ps. Ps. 25:4-5.8-10.14; Luke 1:57-66

Today, part of the prophecy of the Lord's coming is fulfilled: His herald is born. In today's first reading, the prophecy of Malachi, two messengers are mentioned: the messenger who will prepare the way, that is, the herald, and the messenger of the covenant. The herald will come in the spirit of Elijah and this is fulfilled in the birth of John the Baptist in today's gospel reading. John the Baptist is to call us to repentance and to point out for us the Messiah. Our Saviour is among us, but we need John the Baptist to point Him out for us. It is said of John the Baptist thus "The next day, he saw Jesus coming towards him and said, 'Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. It was of him that I said, "Behind me comes one who has passed ahead of me because he existed before me.'' I did not know him myself, and yet my purpose in coming to Baptise with water was so that he might be revealed to Israel." We need to accept the repentance preached to us by John the Baptist so that Jesus might be revealed to us. This reminds us that those to whom Jesus Christ will be revealed and participate in his salvation are those who have prepared themselves through conversion and repentance.

The messenger of the covenant is the Lord Himself; He is coming to establish a new covenant between us and God. Malachi says, "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?" He is coming to reveal sin and to uproot it. Those who can endure the day of His coming are those who can face their sins and give them up. Some of us cannot face their sins, for their sins are so scaring, they rather die than confessing them and giving them up. Only those of us who are ready to confront our sins and give them up can stand when our Lord appears. It is said, "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 sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord." By the virtue of our baptism we belong to the royal priesthood of Christ, offering spiritual sacrifice to God our Father (1Pet. 2:4,9). He is coming to refine and purify us so that we can present acceptable offerings to God our Father. Let us take the courage to confront our sins and to give them up.

Lord our God, we acknowledge our sins, give us the grace to confront them and to give them up. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke