The Day of the Lord (Feast of the Presentation)

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The book of Malachi is traditionally placed at the end of the Old Testament to signify the fact that it serves as a bridge to the New Testament. It talks about the sending of a messenger to herald the coming of the Lord. This messenger is referred to later in Malachi 4:5 as Elijah, and the Gospels tell us that this prophecy was fulfilled by the coming of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2), who heralded the coming of the Messiah.

Malachi then speaks of the Lord suddenly coming to His Temple (vv. 1-2). The Temple was the focal point of Israel’s worship, and the site where they offered sacrifices. It is unsurprising then that in the life of Christ, the Temple features prominently in both ends of His life—both in the beginning, when He comes to the Temple for the Presentation, and towards the end, when He enters the Jerusalem Temple in preparation for his eventual Passion.

By book-ending His incarnate life with these two visits to the Temple, Jesus presents Himself as the coming Lord of Malachi’s prophecy, as well as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifices. Hebrews 9-10 tells us how the sacrifices pointed forward to Christ’s sacrifice, which takes away sins once and for all.

Finally, Malachi tells us that the Day of the Lord will be like the refiner’s fire (vv. 3-4). The refining process removed impurities from gold and silver—a process which involved very intense fire. The discipline of the Lord will not be pleasant, and at times may even be downright painful, but if we willingly submit ourselves to it, we will be sanctified and perfected.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation, let us rejoice that the Lord has come, and that He is at work in our lives to make us into Saints.

J. Luis Dizon