But for you who fear my name . . .

This coming Sunday's readings are . . . a little different.  They each speak about the end times, when Christ will return as victor and it will be the end of days.  The images can be a little scary - the gospel reading talks about wars, about signs of the end times coming.  During this time of year, at the end of our church year (as Advent is the beginning), and during Advent itself, we hear these readings about waiting for Jesus' return, about the need to be ready, and sometimes, harsh warnings for those who are not.

I honestly cannot say these are some of my favorite biblical texts, but they are important nonetheless.

The Old Testament reading for this Sunday is from Malachi, the last of the prophets in the Old Testament, and this chapter is actually the last one of the whole Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament.

Here's the reading:

Malachi 4:1 See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. ² But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

That last sentence is not included in the selection chosen for this Sunday, but I cannot hear these verses without it, because of this song, which also helps me to hear the joy in these images of the end times.  "But for you who fear my name, the son of righteousness will rise, with healing in his wings, and you shall go forth again, and skip about like calves, coming from their stalls at last!"  What a cool image - enjoy the song!