The Second Sunday of Advent Year C

The Second Sunday of Advent

Malachi 3.1–4
Philippians 1.3–11
Luke 3.1–6

The passage from Malachi and the passage from Luke go together well. At first glance, the alternative reading from Baruch (5.1–9) matches the Luke passage even better, since Luke and Baruch both seem to be quoting the same passage from Isaiah but, in fact, the contexts of the Malachi passage and the verses from Luke are more thought-provoking.

In Malachi, there is an argument going on between God and his people. At the end of chapter 2, Malachi says that the people have wearied God, and they ask indignantly what they have done. Malachi replies that they have called into question God’s justice, and so God’s very character. They have said, ‘All who do evil are good in the sight of the Lord. Where is the God of justice?’...