Advent 2 C Luke 3:1-6 Malachi 3:1-4 Psalm 126 Prepare! cont.

Malachi 3  1 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. ²But 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; ³he 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. ⁴Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. (NRSV from www.bible.oremus.org)

There is a tiny or not so tiny element of fear in the anticipation of His coming. 

Who can endure the day of his coming? The ones who thought they were prepared were not. They completely missed it. The ones who were busy, out working, were the ones who saw the angels singing in the heavens, proclaiming his coming. The shepherds were prepared. The religious authorities were not. 

Who can endure the day of his coming? 
We find an answer if we keep reading the chapter. "Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name."

They revered the LORD and they spoke with one another: which is I hope what you will be doing this Sunday morning, the second Sunday of Advent. 

Who can endure the day of his coming? 
Buried under the wrapping paper, tinsel, and lights, I hope you find a rugged manger-bed with a screaming baby inside, letting the world know he has come.

Everyone who thirsts Lent 3 C Isaiah 55:1-13

"Eat what is good" Now that is a good quote for Lent!!! Have you ever seen the movie, Chocolat, in which a woman opens a candy shoppe in a Catholic village DURING Lent?

Ok, I will confess I gave up sugar and wheat for Lent. So far so good...only one lapse into Mardi Gras (Pink Swirls, I was weak)...I'm finding it easier than the year I gave up Ebay.

Back to Isaiah, this text is about feasting on that which we did not earn--a beautiful picture of God's grace. In a bad economy, no one gets a "free lunch." We work our fingers to the bone for pennies and hope we have enough at the end of the day to feed our babies. I feel guilty that I long for wheat and sugar when there are so many starving for any food in this world.

So may the God who provides manna in the wilderness and quail from nowhere, and water from rocks provide for us. May those who have plenty, give, and those who have none, receive. Amen.