You aren’t alone if these readings strike you as fairly threatening.
Malachi’s “burn up the arrogant and evildoers” is further than I’d go when pushed, though at times I may hope for some “creative divine intervention..
Of this constellation of Scriptures, Walter Brueggemann once wrote:
Either the world is about to crack, according to these texts, or God’s rule reigns!
The warnings Malachi put out seem to have been aimed at an indulgent, greedy Jewish priesthood – and all who would cheat the poor, even sell them as slaves. Men who cast off their wives to marry foreigners also earned his wrath; It all compromised true temple worship.
A man of limited education, Malachi told it like he saw it, from his post at the temple. As his name translates to “messenger”, maybe it was an earned moniker. Though some years later, Ezra and Nehemia did succeed in stamping out the abuses he had condemned.
Prophets don’t necessarily see into the future, as some imagine. They do, however, notice the changes in vibe, in behaviour, in the risks facing the group. When a thriving community attends to the wellbeing of its members, prophets pick up on that too, and may challenge the thriving to include the vulnerable people at the edges.
When some exert power, and begin to take advantage of the community, the observant should speak out.
Paul reminds us of that in his letter to Thessalonika. He cautioned that unless everyone pulls their share, the community suffers. Shared work, shared income, hospitality and shared prayer were the rule of the La Samaritaine co-op in which we lived. That rich recipe allowed us to house a succession of families and individuals, immigrants and refugees over a number of years. None of us could have done that alone, yet all of us were enriched by the experience. Were there rough edges at times, certainly! None of us are perfect.
Today’s Gospel from Luke is nearly identical in Mark, Matthew, and also a bit odd. While it’s possible Mark wrote a first draft of his gospel before the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem in 70AD, Matthew and Luke came much later.
So curiously, this passage is a retrospective warning. In each line Luke ramps up the drama of destruction: from “rumors of wars” to full-out war and insurrection; earthquakes, with famine and plagues!
but, first, you face arrest, persecution, and being handed over to testify!?
Of this Howard Thurman wrote: “And all this destruction, as opportunity? Amidst hopelessness and despair, Tell of Hope, known to those who endured suffering.”
Yes, Luke reframes the terror described, and the prospect of testifying before the officials as an opportunity for believers:
The true End of all is Not the Temple’s destruction; the peace destroyed by war is Not the end of the world; nor is our lost security. Luke teaches us that punishing times do not destroy or diminish God’s home, but make those who inhabit it Bold under trial.
Franciscan Joe Nangle wrote “Our security, our hope and future is the Word given us by God. When we testify to that Word, that is, Jesus, we receive the gift of faith.”
If you are privileged to know someone with that depth of faith, you know what it looks like. Most likely someone who has endured more hardship than can be imagined by most of us. And they kept believing, caring, healing, loving, finding joy and passing it on. That doesn’t come easy;
most of us would not choose the road to get there.
Not all testimony involves conflict with “the authorities”.
We can grow our faith with simple steps. An easy but powerful way to
testify is in calls and letters to our elected officials. Tell them that our faith prompts us to care for our neighbors who are poor, or immigrants, and we need our budgets to reflect that care.
We can testify by helping feed those in need with donations, and by volunteering. In this area the Mutual Aid Network (MAN) coordinates people seeking with those offering specific aid (formerly Dane Co Timebank) found online.
In Dane Co, MOSES members and young new advocates doubled down over the past several weeks on the urgency of housing homeless persons.
We met with Alders & County Supervisors; wrote, called, held multiple rallies to keep the tiny houses at Dairy Drive open- and lost. Twenty nine more people are now unsheltered.
Then we tripled down. The budget proposal showed long-unspent monies held by the Sheriff’s office, which we urged be redirected to housing and other urgent needs. Even more of us called, wrote, zoomed, signed in, showed up- We rallied twice more, and helped win back $2.3 million dollars to shelter our neighbors!
This, too, is holy work, into which you are invited.
In all times, but especially times of high stress, we all do well to listen deeply, and find ways to engage with others.
For a number of years, we did so over simple soup suppers, with members of this circle and beyond. In seasons of Advent, Lent, and War, we took turns hosting prayer, singing, and a potluck. We plan to begin again in early December. I encourage any of you interested to consider who/how/what would be good for you and yours to try?
As a faith community, we follow and celebrate the rules of God’s home: Everyone belongs! Let us boldly attest its truth, and daily act by it. May we accept our summons with daring resolve, hearing Paul remind us, “no time for slackers!”
And be not afraid. Jesus not only assures us “by your perseverance you will secure your lives”, “gain your soul” – you even keep all the hair on your head!