Today's Mass Readings (When He comes, who can stand? / Purgatory)

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**Tuesday (12-23) **

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24:

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. Yea, 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 [trials and tribulations in this life and in Purgatory…], ***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. Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with doom.

St. Luke 1:57-66:

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. ***Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.” ***

*The first reading alludes to Purgatory.

I have forsaken (“big”) sin, and not so big… have been forgiven sacramentally, pray a lot, etc… But while in the Real Presence, it is shown to me I am in need of much purification.*
🙂
 
This reminds me of what Pope Benedict wrote about Purgatory in his encyclical *Spe Salvi: *
  1. Some recent theologians are of the opinion that the fire which both burns and saves is Christ himself, the Judge and Saviour. The encounter with him is the decisive act of judgement. Before his gaze all falsehood melts away. This encounter with him, as it burns us, transforms and frees us, allowing us to become truly ourselves.
I also think that that passage you posted not only relates to the purification of the individual soul, but the separation or purification of the tares from the wheat–that is, the righteous from the wicked of the whole human race.
 
Also today’s reading, which is very important:

Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14

R. (see Luke 21:28) Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.

R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.

R. Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
 
This reminds me of what Pope Benedict wrote about Purgatory in his encyclical *Spe Salvi: *

I also think that that passage you posted not only relates to the purification of the individual soul, but the separation or purification of the tares from the wheat–that is, the righteous from the wicked of the whole human race.
thanks for that quote from our wonderful pope…

Did you know (i just found out recently) that the souls in Purgatory are also There, with Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament??

(I always did feel… uncomfortable There… [meaning: Unexposed Sacrament. At the Exposed Sacrament, it is not so :eek: :hypno: :ouch: :banghead: ]) 😃
 
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