The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
-Malachi 3:1-2

Years before Jesus was born in a Bethlehem stable, the prophets of Israel hoped for his coming. They talked of the messiah--God's messenger--arriving in their midst, healing and renewing God's people. It all sounded wonderful and good. If only it were that simple.

The prophet Malachi knew that good things don't always come easily. So in the midst of talking about the coming of the Messiah, he asked tough questions: who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? No wonder the prophets tended to be unpopular. No wonder the people didn't always listen. It was easier not to.

It's still easier to ignore the hard questions. Most of us don't want to spend too much time trying to answer them. We look forward to God showing up in our lives in some new way, but we want it to be an easy experience.

But let's wrestle with the question for a moment. When the Christ-child arrives in the manger; when God's presence in our lives is experienced in some new way, will we be able to stand it? Will we endure?

Let me phrase Malachi's question a little differently. What parts of us will be left standing? What parts of us wouldn't survive? What is it in our hearts that will allow us to grow closer to God? And what do we have to let go of in order to know God's grace?

The prophets knew that the decision to follow God, to love God, is a costly one. Our faith in God demands that we let go of fear, of anger, of bigotry. Our faith demands that we care about others as much as we care about ourselves. Our faith demands that we live our lives in a way that expresses God's deep compassion for all of creation. This is not easy. Part of us will not endure, will not stand.

Such is the way of faith. Death leads into life. A journey that seems hopelessly impossible gives us joy that we would not have dared to imagine. In risking getting lost, we find that we are found. The foolishness of the gospel shames our wisdom. And this is why we observe Advent; why we wait every year for Jesus to show up. We know that not everything about us will endure, but we trust that the child in the manger will lead us... not only to the cross, but to new life.

When John the Baptist was preparing people for the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he preached a message that was not easy... and because it was not easy, and required change, it was full of hope. He quoted the prophet Isaiah, saying: "the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God’” (Luke 3:4-6).

In your own life, what are the valleys that need to be filled, the mountains that need to be leveled? What are the crooked paths in your life? Blessings on you as you prepare the way of the Lord in your own life this Advent. May you see the salvation of God. I hope you'll share your journey with us.