The need for a Divine intervention

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary open today with words from the prophet Malachi who when surveying the state of the relationship of the Hebrew people with God finds that corruption of the priests, the neglect of God's Temple, and the personal sins of the people have returned the society to a state similar to that before the Babylonian exile. The prophet foresees the need for a new messenger to return the hearts and minds of the people to the Lord in anticipation of the “day of the Lord” when the great gap between the practice of the people and the righteousness of the Divine will act as purifying agent among God’s people. The psalmist praised the steadfast love and faithfulness of God for those who keep his Covenant. Luke’s Gospel reveals more of the special circumstances surrounding the birth of John the Baptist who will fulfill the role of the “messenger” calling the people to prepare for the Lord by returning to the relationship they know in their hearts as the way of righteousness. The Incarnation of the Divine as a baby, in humble human existence is the first of the indications that the aspects of humility, forgiveness and compassion are the characteristics of the New Covenant which were not anticipated as the appearance of the longed for Messiah. The Presence of the Divine in the world today of corruption of the priests, the neglect of God's Temple, and the personal sins of the people is witness to the steadfast love and faithfulness to the relationship of the Divine in continuous offering of forgiveness and compassion to the worn and weary through the indwelling Spirit.