as in the days of old

First Reading: Psalm: Second Reading: Gospel:

Malachi 3:1-4 Psalm 24:7-10 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

Malachi 3:4  Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

It is tempting to want to start over with something new when things go wrong.  This time God has chosen to reconcile that which has gone a stray.  God doesn't create bad stuff.  What God has done is good.  We don't need to create something new.  We need to go back to what God has always wanted for us and from us.

Jesus is not a new God.  He is the same God with a new covenant.  But the goal is the same, that we be in harmony with God.  This is not new.  That means that we have it within us to be pleasing ot God.  The idea that we must do a new thing avoids the problem; us.  We hav egone a stray.  It isn't God's creation that has failed.  We need to come back to what God wants.  Then our offering will be pleasing.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to realize that your creation is not flawed, but I have strayed.  Help me so see clearly to come back to what you want me to be.

Amen