Malachi is a prophet of doom. No one can accuse Malachi of the shallow, pollyanna attitudes of false prophets. The Dies Irae, a special part of the funeral Mass before the liturgical reforms of Vatican II, sang of death using Malachi’s words. It began, “Day of wrath, day of mourning, heed the prophet’s warning.” This is a very different view of death than the Mass of Christian Burial, which celebrates Jesus’ promise of resurrection rather than an ominous threat of God’s wrath.
The day of wrath Malachi describes is the reverse side of God’s promises to Israel. To a people complacent and apathetic about the demands of justice, the prophets speak words of accusation and doom. They bring suit against Israel for infidelity to God and God’s promises. They promise God’s wrath will burn away their injustice rather than protect the people against their enemies. Their enemies will be the hand of God against them.
However, even a prophet who describes God’s wrath as vigorously as Malachi does also promises God will respond to fidelity with healing. The prophet speaks to stir Israel to faith and real relationship with God rather than assuming God will save them because they belong by birth to God’s people or dwell in the city of Jerusalem, which God protected in the past.
Malachi stirs Israel to fear and faith.
Lo, the day is coming,
blazing like an oven,
when all the proud
and all evildoers will be stubble.
The day that is coming
will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root
nor branch, says the Lord of hosts.
But for you who fear my name,
there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.
Malachi 3.19-20
- How might you make today a nonjudgment day?
- How do you feel about the day of God’s coming?
- What injustices are you or your parish complacent and apathetic about?