12 Nov Tuesday

The prophets end on an uplifting note with the last verse of Malachi, at least for those who fear the name of the Lord. ‘Note that ‘”fear” means a sense of reverence and awe that overcomes a person in front of that which is greater than which we can think.

The prophet brings the judgment of God down on the proud and the evildoers. The proud are those who make of themselves number 1 and greater than God. The evildoers; are those not doing good, remembering that the good means bearing the fruits o the Spirit and doing the corporal works of mercy. These will be burnt to ashes. Keeping to the prophet’s; line of thought, one can’t help but think that this culture is not in good standing with God.

Making America great again seems to mean financially top dog, and anything goes to get there. We can be great unto the heavens like the tower of Babel, but unless we are good, our much lauded greatness is but rubble in the sight of God.

For those who fear the Lord, the “sun of justice” which the Church takes to mean Jesus Christ, will arise. Thus the Church understands this passage from the prophets. The healing rays is both the light of Christ and his healing sacraments. In some sense all the sacraments have some healing component. The homilist should on this over and above the condemnation part of the verses.