Malachi: Red Mass

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Thank you for sacrificing your time to pray with me at this “Red Mass.”

I wish to acknowledge your dedication as lawyers, judges, parliamentarians, and all associated roles.

Although we rarely hear from the prophet Malachi in the liturgical cycle, he explores an important theme about injustice. The hearts of God’s people have always yearned for divine redress and for reward for faithfulness in the face of injustice.

“Malachi” means “my messenger.” (v. 3.1) God promises to send a figure at the end of time who will “prepare the way” before God, who is coming to renew the faith of Israel. The anonymous author of these oracles lived in Judah two generations after the Israelites had returned from exile in Babylon (460 B.C.).

The people had rebuilt …show more content…

Indifference, unrest, and injustice were rife. Temple worship was not even externally correct. The people sacrificed lame animals to God.

The prophet’s oracles are a kind of catechism, laying out convictions about God’s love for Israel, love of justice, and opposition to divorce. They reveal the sins of the priests, criticism of ritual offences, and the assurance of the coming triumph of the just.

Malachi foretold a purified sacrifice that priests would offer all day. We believe this takes place at Mass, which is probably why there is a statue of Malachi in this …show more content…

If a neighbour were to deny food to an unexpected late-night visitor, he would experience shame the next day for failing to provide hospitality.

To this motive of shame, the parable adds the theme of determination. Keep praying because “at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.”

Jesus then makes an a fortiori (“how much more”) argument. If this scoundrel of a neighbour will act and give provisions, how much more will God—who is all good—grant the persistent petitions of those who ask Him?

In the other parable, Jesus makes a similar point about how parents want to give only good things to their children. If we, who are evil in comparison with God, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our heavenly Father give? In Matthew’s version, He gives good things. In Luke’s version, He gives the Holy Spirit.

Jesus concludes, “ask, and it will be given you.”

In John’s gospel, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as “the Paraclete,” or “Advocate.” Lawyers are also known as advocates. You speak on behalf of others. You represent those who are unable to represent themselves. You are willing to serve. It’s no accident that, often, those who work in government are called Public

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