This time of the year always provokes a deep reflection of the past year. What has meant the most to me? Who has etched their life onto mine? Who are the people who taught me to live more authentically? These questions come as dinners and parties call us to reconnect with each other. Letters in the mail or the surprising text or phone call remind us of people who continue to stay in touch.

At the core of these sentiments, I find the readings of Sunday to be illuminating and even a bit disturbing.

The provocative image on this final Sunday in Ordinary Time is fire given by the prophet Malachi.

Malachi is the final book in the Old Testament with four short chapters. The name Malachi means my messenger. Malachi is the prophet who addresses the community that has failed to recognize God’s love. This people offer defective sacrifices, married the daughters of foreign gods, withhold their tithes and sacrifical offerings. They have priests who say things people want to hear, rather than telling the truth.

Irrespective of the people’s behavior, the prophet focuses on the faithful love of God. God does not revoke his love in spite of his people’s backsliding. The prophet points to the day of the Lord which is great and terrible.

In today’s First Reading, the prophet Malachi says that all the proud and evildoers will be like stubble and consumed in a fire. There is another fire which will come from the sun of justice. This sun will bring the fire of its healing rays to those who are faithful to God.

On the day of the Lord, nothing will be hidden. Everything will be brought into the light, into the consuming fire. God will rule with his justice and place the mirror before us. All will be revealed and we will see our true and authentic self as we stand before the all-holy God.

Saint Paul reminds us that the saints have come to give us Christ. Those who accepted Christ ate well, nourished by his Word. Others who reject Christ find their souls starving for real food. God called us to imitate the saints who brought the Word to us.

In the Gospel, Jesus talks about the persecution of all the faithful, governments will overturn, and many will turn on each other. In this turmoil, the Lord calls us to persevere. We read this in the final sentence:

You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.

As this year comes to a close with all the holidays ahead, we are reminded that one day we will stand before the loving presence of the all-holy God. The judgement of God is merely a revelation of the complete truth of how we have lived our lives, bathed in the healing rays of the sun of justice or like stubble that caused havoc in the world.

When that day comes, will I find Christ living in my heart? Will I find the relationships that have fed my soul with the love of Christ? Above all, will I find that my soul has persevered in the love and mercy of Jesus?