December 10th

Day 10

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.

As we journey through this time of Advent who I wonder, are the messengers of this age who
prepare the way for his coming once again?   

As we look at what is going on around us, locally, nationally and globally, where are the ones
proclaiming good news and the promise of God's covenant?   

As we find ourselves in the midst of the cacophony of noise and the all consuming assault on our
senses by the world at large, where are the ones who can give the alternative narrative that is so
much needed?   

Where are the ones who speak of peace and reconciliation? Where are the the ones who fight for
justice and for the end of oppression? Where at the ones who seek to bring freedom and hope,
love and joy?   

They are there of course, if only we know where to look and what to look for.   

At times mistaken, ignored or ridiculed by those of the world (and of the church) the most unlikely of people in the most unlikely of places, are the ones who God sends to us to prepare the way and get things ready.   

Do we recognise them, do we hear them and are we attentive to what they have to say?   

Prayer

Loving God, may we seek out your messengers for these times, listen to what they have to teach us and in doing so, engage with them, that we too might be ones who get things ready and help prepare the way for your coming. Amen.