Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Not a lot is known about the prophet Malachi other than it appears that he prophesied in the city of Jerusalem and that he probably lived around five centuries before the birth of Christ. Historians and Scripture scholars are not in agreement as to whether Malachi was a priest or if he was a lay person that God had chosen to warn the new Jewish community about their sins. There are no sources outside the book of Malachi that give more detail or background about him.
Malachi talks about God sending a messenger who will prepare the way for the Messiah. The Jews see this person as Elijah. However, in Christianity, John the Baptist is considered the last in the line of the Old Testament prophets. Throughout Advent, we have heard messages from John the Baptist preparing the way for the Savior. Today, in the Gospel, as we hear details about the birth of John the Baptist and the manner in which he was named, we hear the neighbors and townspeople ask: “What, then, will this child be?” We know from the Gospel stories that John will be the one who directly prepares the people for Jesus’ public ministry and proclamation of God’s kingdom.
As we reflect on today’s readings and on the life of John the Baptist the day before we commence our celebration of the birth of the Savior, we may ask ourselves about what God intend of our own destinies, what God intended us to make of our own lives. We might ask ourselves about how, like John the Baptist, we can prepare a path for the Lord in our own lives and in the lives of others. Like John the Baptist, God has expectations of us based upon the gifts and talents he has given us. As we prepare for Christmas and for the beginning of a new year, when we often make new year promise and resolutions, may we reflect up what expectations God may have of us, and we make good us of our gifts and abilities.
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