Tuesday, December 23, 2025

 

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

As the Advent season ends, the Church insists that the faithful continue to reflect on John the Baptist.  Today’s first reading tells of a “messenger” who is identified with Elijah, the prophet.  As Elijah slayed 450 prophets of the god Baal, the “new Elijah” will spur the people to forsake evil ways.  Once reformed, they will accept the coming Lord of hosts with peace and joy.

The gospel hints that the newborn son of Zachariah and Elizabeth is the “new Elijah”.  His name, John, means “God is gracious”; that is, God shows Himself gracious in two ways.  First, he has given the barren couple a child.  Second, He will endow that child with fiery conviction to turn minds and hearts to Himself. 

The reform begun with John’s preaching in the desert will end with Jesus’ preaching in Jerusalem.  The latter’s message, however, will be significantly different from the former’s.  Where John scared the unrepentant with fire and brimstone, Jesus promised blessing to those who repent.  It’s the familiar “stick or carrot” option.  Like the “good thief” with Jesus on Calvary, we want to recognize our sins and ask Jesus for mercy.

Monday, December 23, 2024

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

Obedience is heeding the words of another.  When Zachariah was visited by Gabriel, he did not heed the angel’s message.  Rather he debated the possibility of Elizabeth’s conceiving at her old age.  For his disobedience, Zachariah was punished with loss of speech.  Chastened by Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Zachariah rehabilitates himself.  He does not hesitate to name their child “John” as Gabriel dictated. 

As a result of his compliance, Zachariah’s speech returns.  The people are so amazed by all that is happening that they wonder what will become of Zachariah’s son.  Today’s reading from Malachi spells out John’s fate.  He will go before the Lord to chastise the people so that they may repent of their sins.  Then when the Lord comes, he will grant them blessings of salvation.

Many of us have difficulty heeding what God has taught us in the Scriptures.  We not only want to debate its validity, but often ignore the instruction.  Today’s readings show that not only does the Lord intend what is good for us, but also promises us blessings for obedience.

Friday of the fourth Week of Advent – December 23, 2022

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

Unlike Jesus’ name, the gospel writers place no significance in the name “John.”  But there are two significant details in today’s gospel story of Jesus’ forerunner’s name.  First, John’s father Zechariah shows obeisance to the Lord here.  Before, he doubted the angel’s word that he and Isabel would conceive.  Now he names the child “John” as Gabriel instructed.  Second, Zechariah and Isabel independently agree that their child be called “John.” Since no one in their family has that name, the prompt agreement indicates the Lord’s collusion.

The prophecy from Malachi, today’s first reading, tells the role John is to play within the gospel.  He will go before the Lord Jesus, preparing the people for his message.  Malachi names the forerunner “Elijah,” the prophet who called down fire from heaven.  Likewise, John preached fire and brimstone.  Although, like Jesus, he spoke of the coming of the kingdom, his message was colored with threats.  Jesus largely preached the kingdom as the experience of God’s mercy.

Some fret over names.  They don’t want to be called anything like obese or dull.  Most want to be labeled intelligent, attractive, and cool.  Let us dare to be different here and strive to be named, like John, “forerunners of the Lord.”  Let us prepare the world for his coming by acts of mercy and kindness.  

Thursday, December 23, 2021

 Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent – December 23

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

After doing something seriously wrong, we may feel out of sorts.  Guilt weighs on our conscience.  One thing after another seems to go south.  In Shakespeare’s Macbeth after killing the king, both Macbeth and his wife experience a serious of setbacks.  She goes out of her mind, and he is routed.  In the gospel Zechariah commits a serious sin, suffers consequences, but shows himself capable of reform.

Zechariah expressed doubt that the good news of the angel Gabriel could come to pass.  When told that he and his barren wife Elizabeth would bear a son, he questioned God’s authority.  As a result, he was struck speechless.  In today’s passage, the child is born.  Zechariah shows acceptance of God’s authority by naming his son “John” as Gabriel ordained.  Only then is Zechariah’s speech restored.

When John grows up, he will announce the coming of the Lord.  Doing so, he fulfills the prophecy of today’s first reading.  John preaches repentance to prepare the people for Christ’s forgiveness. We too must repent when we do something wrong.  Then, like Zechariah, we can be refreshed to give praise to God.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

 

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent – December 23

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

The images used in today’s reading from Malachi create confusion.  Obviously, “messenger” points to the coming of God’s definitive prophet.  But is this messenger Jesus or John the Baptist?  His being like a “refiner’s fire” gives a nod to John whose preaching scorched.  But “refining them…that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord” sounds like Jesus’ salvific work.  Let’s give the nod to Jesus as the messenger.  If Elijah, the prophet, is to come before the day of the Lord, then he – and not the messenger -- must be associated with John. 

The gospel passage also sees John as making the way for Jesus.  It shows both Elizabeth and Zechariah bestowing the name “John” on their newborn.  John means “The Lord has shown favor.”  John shows the Lord’s favor by introducing Jesus, God’s definitive messenger.  In time, the messenger will be understood as God incarnate, but in Luke he remains, for a good part, only his prophet.

The narratives about the coming of Jesus prepare us for his ministry and eventual death.  John will go before Jesus announcing the coming of the long-expected savior.  As he is arrested, Jesus will begin to preach eclipsing his precursor’s greatness.  He will die after being rejected by his people and crucified by Romans.  Yet he rises and sends his Holy Spirit to sanctify us who believe in him as Lord.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

Unlike Jesus’ name, the gospel writers place no significance in the name “John.”  But there are two significant details in today’s gospel story of Jesus’ forerunner’s name.  First, John’s father Zechariah shows obeisance to the Lord here.  Before, he doubted the angel’s word that he and Isabel would conceive.  Now he names the child “John” as Gabriel instructed.  Second, Zechariah and Isabel independently agree that their child be called “John.” Since no one in their family has that name, the prompt agreement is extraordinary.

The prophecy from Malachi, today’s first reading, tells the role John is to play within the gospel.  He will go before the Lord Jesus, preparing the people for his message.  Malachi calls the forerunner “Elijah,” who called down fire from heaven.  John preached fire and brimstone.  Although he, like Jesus, spoke of the coming of the kingdom, his message was colored with threats.  Jesus largely preached the kingdom of God’s mercy.

Some fret over names.  They don’t want to be called ugly or stupid.  They want to be known as intelligent, sexy, and cool.  Let us strive to be named, like John, “forerunners of the Lord.”  Let us prepare the world for his coming withacts of mercy and kindness.   

Friday, December 23, 2016

Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

In Luke’s gospel John the Baptist clearly takes the place of Elijah, the prophet of fire. At one point, John warns the people that unless they reform, they will be cut down like trees and burned.  In this way John goes before the Lord, as his father Zechariah proclaims in his song of jubilation at his naming, “to prepare his ways.”

Jesus will not take up John’s message of the primacy of divine wrath.  Rather, his preaching will center on God as the human’s benefactor.  Although Jesus will not shrink from mentioning God’s power to cast sinners into hell, he will stress God’s tender mercy.  God, he will say, has counted the number of hairs on each faithful person’s head to insure her or his total salvation.  

Since love can be looked upon as a kind of fire, we might contrast John’s theme with Jesus’ using the same image.  Fire can destroy dispassionately as well as purify with all compassion.  John, following Elijah, will use the threat if not the force of a blazing fire to warn us of the danger that dissolute living incurs.  In contrast God’s love, incarnate in Jesus, burns like a surgeon’s laser beam not harming but healing us.

Tuesday, Decembr 23, 2014

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

In Luke’s gospel John the Baptist clearly takes the place of Elijah, the prophet of fire. John warns the people that unless they reform, they will be burned like trees in a forest fire.  In this way John goes before the Lord, as his father Zechariah proclaims in his song of jubilation at his naming, “to prepare his ways.”

Jesus will not take up John’s message of the coming wrath of God.  Rather, his preaching will center on God as the human’s savior.  Although Jesus will mention God’s power to cast sinners into hell, he will stress God’s love.  He will say that the Father has counted the number of hairs on each person’s head to insure her total salvation.  

Since love is also portrayed with fire, we might contrast John’s message with Jesus’ using that image.  John, following Elijah, will use the threat of a blazing fire to move the people out of lethargy or licentiousness.  In contrast Jesus, the divine physician, uses love like a laser to heal us and make us whole.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

In Luke’s gospel John the Baptist clearly takes the place of Elijah, the prophet of fire. John warns the people that unless they reform, they will be cut down like trees and burned. In this way John goes before the Lord, as his father Zechariah proclaims in his song of jubilation at his naming, “to prepare his ways.”

Jesus will not take up John’s message of the primacy of divine wrath. Rather, his preaching will center on God as the human’s benefactor. Although Jesus will not shrink from mentioning God’s power to cast sinners into hell, he will stress God’s love. God, he will say, has counted the number of hairs on each faithful person’s head to insure her or his total salvation.

Since love can be looked upon as a kind of fire, we might contrast John’s theme with Jesus’ using the same image. Fire can destroy dispassionately as well as purify with all compassion. John, following Elijah, will use the threat if not the force of a blazing fire to warn us of the danger that dissolute living incurs. In contrast God’s love, incarnate in Jesus, burns like a surgeon’s laser beam not harming but healing us and making us whole.

December 23, 2009

Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

Whatever Malachi had in mind when he wrote that God will send Elijah to “turn the hearts of the father to their children,” we should hear him today as addressing the social pathology of children born outside marriage. Almost forty percent of the births in the United States are made by unwed mothers. As a result the children are more likely to suffer poverty, emotional problems, and learning difficulties. Nevertheless, having children without a vowed partner has become fashionable as high-paid professionals testify to how doable it is.

We understand Malachi as foretelling the coming of the John the Baptist who would castigate sex out of marriage as he did other sins. He would find multiple victims of the abuse. The unintended offspring may be the most aggrieved, but certainly the individuals directly involved are not left unscathed, and society – like a cable under constant stress -- is weakened. God, who loves His people immensely, cannot help but take offense.

God also acts to relieve the situation. He sent John to warn of punishment for sinners, and now He gives us Jesus who will employ another strategy. He will expose the barrenness of self-love. It gratifies some immediate desire but will end in the coldness of the earth. Emulating his care for others -- especially for one’s own offspring -- puts one close to the path of eternal happiness.

Homilette for Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

In Luke’s gospel John the Baptist clearly takes the place of Elijah, the prophet of fire. He warns the people that unless they reform and do good works, they will be cut down like trees “and thrown into the fire.” In this way John goes before the Lord, as his father Zechariah proclaims in his song of jubilation at his naming, “to prepare his ways.”

Jesus will not take up John’s message of the primacy of divine wrath. Rather, his preaching will be dominated by the image of God as human’s protector. Although he will not shrink from mentioning God’s power to cast a sinner into hell, Jesus will stress God’s love. God, he will say, has counted the number of hairs on each of his followers’ heads to insure their total salvation.

Since love can be looked upon as a kind of fire, we might forge a distinction. Fire can destroy dispassionately, and it can purify with all compassion. John, following Elijah, will use images if not the force of a blazing fire to warn us of the danger that dissolute living incurs. God’s love, incarnate in Jesus, is a fire like a surgeon’s laser. It will not harm but heal and make us whole.