early peaches this week

 

feb 2 2006

Mal 3:1-4 Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in the days of old,
as in years gone by.
I always remember the story Father Rich told of seeing a silver refiner in the Middle East. He squatted over the pot of silver with a high fire under it and when the silver was refined he could see himself in the surface of it like a mirror.

There have been times that I would endure the process of purification and wonder where it was all going. I am grateful to live a life consecrated to God. I know that the path is narrow but the rewards are eternal. Today I pray for a renewed purity of heart and the openness to the love of others.