“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. 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; 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.”  (Malachi 3:1-3)  We continue today on our Advent journey accompanied by the prophets. Like last week, we encounter the promise of the Lord’s coming to his people.  But unlike Jeremiah’s word from last week, Malachi’s declaration sounds more threatening than reassuring!  Just prior to this lection, the people have been griping about the lack of justice; about why is God not of more help.  To which the prophet answers, “Oh yes, God is coming; are you ready!”  We might want to consider filing this second week under “Be careful what you ask for!”  For who can stand when he comes?  Well surely we good church folks can, right?  Well, in a word, “No.”  It is particularly the religious folk, the deacons and the elders, the choir leaders and the administrative board chairs.  They are the ones who are going to get the fire and the lye soap.  We are the ones who cannot stand.  And where is this all terrible Lord?  Where is the bearer of the dreadful means of our purification, of our judgment?  Why I do believe that is him over there.  That would be the little guy over there, lying in a manger.  Think about it.  The judge of all, no bigger than a shoebox is coming for you.  Who really can endure such wondrous love?  Who really can begin to fathom the depths of his passion, that for us he would come like this?  Who can stand to contemplate a love so intense that he would trade his purity for our sin, his fire for our cold, cold hearts?  We prepare in Advent because we really are not ready to receive such a glorious Judge.  How are you preparing to meet him again?  Ready or not, he is coming.  Thanks be to God!  Have a great week.