The Regrettable Common Lectionary continued.

Our reading from the Hebrew Scripture Sunday (2 Advent Yr C) is Malachi 3:1-4
     1  See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight--indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

     For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

This is where the Editor cuts off. The Prophet Malachi however continues:

      5 Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.



It says something about the Editor's opinion of the ordinary Christian Congregation that they were concerned that:

• the adulterers;
• those who swear falsely;
• those who oppress the hired workers in their wages;
• those who oppress the widow and the orphan;
• those who thrust aside the alien;
• those who do not fear God;

are so thickly represented that the Judgment will be un-palatable to their ears.

This Sunday take a look around, are these really the friends and neighbors who share your pew?
If so, would it not be a kindness to tell them what Malachi said was coming?
If not, why are we shy about reading the parts of the Bible with the pointy-edges?

Forgive the Lectionary Editors (again) and trust that God is able to get His Word across with or without their help. Amen!