Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, December 22, 2012 Read – Malachi 3 & 4 As we have been listening to the Old Testament story of God and God’s people, we have noted the appearance of the prophets within the context of that history. The prophet Malachi is a difficult prophet to place historically. In fact, Malachi might not even be the name of this prophet since Malachi means “messenger”. I guess it really doesn’t matter when this “messenger” spoke. Clearly, Malachi was longing for the coming of God’s Messiah! We begin with chapter 3 where Malachi envisions the coming of God to his people. It is a somewhat frightful message that Malachi brings. The one who comes will cause people to wonder who can stand at his appearing. And the one who comes will bring cleansing to those who receive him. We are waiting for Christmas to come – it is just a few days away now – but are we waiting with the right attitude? Is there at least the hint of awe in our waiting? I hope so. We should note that when he began his gospel Mark began by quoting these words of Malachi and adding to them the words of Isaiah 40. As Mark contemplated just how he might begin his story of Jesus he thought of this one who long before had longed with some degree of fear the coming of God’s Messiah. It was an appropriate beginning for Mark. But Mark may well have had the words at the end of Malachi in mind as well. There we hear Malachi proclaim that before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes, God will sent Elijah to prepare the way. Mark saw that coming of Elijah in the work of John the Baptist who came to prepare the way for Jesus. It was John the Baptist who would baptize Jesus. It was John the Baptist who would be the forerunner of Jesus. The longing of Malachi came to pass in the birth of Jesus. As we get ready for the celebration of Christmas we reflect on Malachi’s longing – and on all of the Old Testament people of God.