The Day of the Lord

The book of Malachi is actually a collection of oracles that are anonymous. Originally these four (or three as in the Hebrew Bible) were attached to Zechariah. These oracles were separated because a scholar seeing the Hebrew word malachi, which means “my messenger,” in chapter three thought it to be the name of the person who wrote this collection. Separating and naming this book by another prophet helped make the number of the lesser prophets twelve. Malachi was written after the Babylonian captivity when the Israelites were allowed to return to Judah. Not all returned and there is speculation that it was a minority of those in Babylon who did. For those who returned, life was not easy. After about fifty* years of exile the situation in Judah had changed. Those who were not taken to Babylon had adapted to a new situation. The influx of the returnees placed a greater burden on the land and economy. Just think about our economy after two years of covid. Think what it would be like after 50. People were questioning God. Why had God abandoned them?

Malachi gives three answers. First, God had not abandoned them, they had abandoned God. He also points out that the Edomites, who were hostile to the Israelites, had met destruction which shows God still cared for the Israelites. Thirdly, Malachi argues that God’s plan is long-ranged and that when God’s justice does arise, those who have waited in faith will be part of the great joy that it brings. That part of the argument is what we read today. 

For some, that promise of the future gets in the way of living for today. That may be what is going on in our other lessons for today. Luke and Mark are the only gospels that have this account. We know that Luke had a copy of Mark when he wrote his gospel because there are passages in Luke that are word for word, showing that Luke copied from Mark. But not this story. Luke has changed the account. The reason for that change is that when Mark wrote his account, the temple still stood. Luke wrote his gospel after the Romans had destroyed the temple. It seems that some Christians, seeing the destruction of the temple, decided that Jesus’ return was imminent. Luke changes the story to say, while that might be true, Christians were still called to proclaim Jesus to the world. That is why he ends this story reminding them that they may be persecuted for their words. Paul seems to be saying the same thing to the Thessalonians. Although we cannot be sure here, since he calls them to imitate him, it seems that he is also talking about proclaiming Jesus. That is what Paul did while he was with them. More importantly we remember Paul tells us that he is imitating Jesus.

We who are the children of God, sisters and brothers of Jesus, are called out of our idleness and busybody lives to show God’s love to the world. We do that by how we treat others. Using the gifts that God has given us – our selves, our time, and our possessions, as our offertory prayers says – to bring Jesus to the world. Paul says it well when he calls us the Body of Christ. It is we who bring the gifts of God to the world imitating Jesus with acts and voice.

*The actual length of the Babylonian captivity is debated. The length of time is somewhere between 48 and 70 years.