Sanitized, Refined, and Purified - November 20
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 102; PM Psalm 107:1-32; Mal. 3:1-12; James 5:7-12; Luke 18:1-8
Today’s Reflection
“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: 2-3
It’s safe to say that many of us have spent more time this year thinking about what it takes to make something pure and clean than we ever have before. The nature of living in a pandemic, trying to avoid contracting a virus that spreads easily from person to person, has forced us to think much more about what it takes it make our surroundings clean. Back in the spring, I remember hearing how people left their grocery bags to sit out in their garage for a while before bringing the items into the house—eventually, the items would be brought inside and wiped down before being put away. I never went quite that far in my quest to keep things virus-free, but I can understand why some took up this practice.
At the church, we have many cleaning procedures in place meant to keep things as safe and sanitized as possible. After the Parish Hall and Nave are used for in-person worship, our cleaning crew comes through to sanitize all the surfaces with a disinfectant sprayer and then wipe down the surfaces. And, if you watched the Rite of Confirmation on November 8, you may have noticed that my role as priest was to be the bearer of the disinfecting wipes. I stood next to the bishop so that, after each confirmand used the prayer kneeler, I could wipe the wooden top and sides clean before the next confirmand touched it.
Some, especially those in healthcare professions, are very careful when they come home at the end of a long day to take off their work clothes and shoes, then shower and change into new clothes before they do anything else. In our own house, we are more likely to use the sanitize mode when wash our dishes and dry our clothes. And we’ve definitely gone through much, much more soap, detergent, and hand-sanitizing supplies than we ever have before.
In today’s reading from Malachi 3, we hear him announcing the messenger that God is sending to prepare his way. And Malachi tells us that standing before this messenger will not be easy, for when he comes to purify God’s people, “he will be like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap” (3: 2). Back in Malachi’s day, these references would have been more familiar to people. In order for gold and silver to refined, to be formed into something useful and beautiful, they first must be placed into extremely high heat. Likewise, in order for sheep’s wool to be made into yarn and cloth, it must first be cleaned with an extremely harsh soap by the fuller—only then will it be clean enough and soft enough to craft into the woolen items that keep us warm, dry, and comfortable.
The message God was speaking through Malachi was made more clear to them through these analogies with the processes of refining the raw materials of metal and wool into items crafted with care by artisans—finished items that made life easier and more comfortable, and even more beautiful. The idea is that going through harsh conditions or circumstances—not unlike blazing fire or harsh soap—is necessary to change something (or someone) from raw and unfinished into something (or someone) exhibiting greater strength, purity, and beauty.
Ultimately, though we may go through times of trial that can serve to refine and perfect our faith, God did send us Jesus the Son of God, who by his life, death, and resurrection has already purified us from all sin. As much as we may be drawn into thinking that we can make ourselves and our surroundings perfect and free from impurities, it is God who makes us clean spiritually. In a world full of anxiety about those things which may contaminate our sense of security and self, I find it comforting to know that I am already refined and purified through what Christ has accomplished in his suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension.
—Becky+
Questions for Self-Reflection
Can you recall a time of trial when you felt like you were being refined by fire? Looking back on the situation, does it seem like you came through it stronger or wiser than you were before? Why or why not?
Daily Challenge
Think of an area in your life in which you may feel anxiety that you are not enough—not perfect enough, not pure enough, not refined enough. Through your times of prayer and reflection this week, do what you can to release this concern into God’s hands, asking God to help you believe that you are enough, to believe that through Christ you are already clean and whole.