Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Two more days! As we inch closer to the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the anticipation and longing for Christmas in our household is at its peak. Our children are excited to be on break from school and even more excited for the impending visit of the mythical bearded man in a red suit who apparently plans to squeeze his large figure down our chimney tomorrow night–let’s hope he can magically slip pass the roaring fire we plan to have going since the forecasted windchill could dip as low as -30 degrees this weekend. Even more importantly, as the psalm today proclaims, may we “lift up [our] heads and see; [our] redemption is near at hand” (Luke 21:28). Jesus is coming! The savior of the world. He will be called Emmanuel; holy one, “Wonder Counselor, God Hero, Father Forever, Prince of Peace” (Is 9:5).
As I sit writing this, we are preparing for one of the coldest Christmas’ I will have ever experienced–praying for the safety of not only those who are traveling this weekend but also those who are staying put, and most especially those who are vulnerable to the elements upon us. I’m naturally drawn to the first reading from Malachi today, particularly because of the use of the imagery of the refiner’s fire; announcing the advent of the Lord, the one who is coming to make all things right.
“For he is like a refiner’s fire, or like fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord.” (Mal 3:2b-3) The purpose of the refiner’s fire is not to destroy the silver or gold but to purify it, to bring out its beauty. Similarly, soap is not meant to destroy but to cleanse; to restore beauty. As we prepare for the coming of Christ, he is coming to us. Jesus is coming to purify and refine our hearts, our lives. I imagine we have placed a lot of attention on the physical preparations for Christmas. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade said that “the essential is the interior”. Have we made time to prepare our hearts during Advent to celebrate the coming of the Lord? Are we fit to be a dwelling place for God? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) God is coming into our dysfunction to refine and purify us, to bring out our beauty, to prepare us to be with God. What great love and mercy! God does not come to destroy us but to burn away the impurities in us and cleanse us. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).
We are reminded that the Lord for whom we have been longing and anticipating will come; he is coming to us, bringing peace, joy, hope, love, and goodness. He is also coming to purify and wash us of sin and evil. When it finally happens–this moment we’ve been waiting for all this time–and it isn't anything like what we might have imagined, then what? God is a consuming fire; but also, “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8). May our good God not only keep us warm this Christmas weekend, but consume us such as to purify our hearts and set us afire with great love.
Peace,
Brandon Meyer