WHAT A DIFFERENCE MAKES

Malachi 3:13-20; Ps 1 Blessed are they who hope in the Lord; Luke 11:5-13

A word from the prophet

"But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays."

We live in a society unfortunately that refuses to make distinctions between good and bad moral choices.  We celebrate tolerance.  We celebrate independence.  We celebrate the right to have opinions about things regardless of their moral weight.  We do not like to differentiate between groups of persons  or individuals.  We falsely think that no matter what, all roads lead to heaven or some utopian idea of happiness or pleasure.

Yet, the prophet Malachi seems to suggest other wise. He makes a distinction.  He differentiates between those who serve God and those who do not.  He differentiates those who live in reverential awe of the LORD and those whose pride and live with no regard for God's commands.  It seems this difference matters in the end.

The prophet speaks, "Then you will see distinction between the just and the wicked; between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve him."

Those who do not will be burned up like stubble and those who do shall experience the healing easy of the sun of justice.

Distinctions are important.  Being different; living different; may be the only difference that matters.

The end does matter.  It is does reflect back on how we live today.

We turn our attention to the gospel.  Jesus gives us those familiar words, "Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened…"

Every prayer is itself somehow transformative.
When we ask humbly with frequency, we come to understand our utter dependence, we learn our limitations and we are changed in the process.

What exactly is it that we receive and find?  What door is opened?  Perhaps, the one that leads to Jesus himself.  We find Him.  We receive Him.  Because if we are looking for something other than Him, then we still don't know what we are asking.