MALACHI 3:1-6
The Promised Messenger

I, the LORD All-Powerful, will send my messenger to prepare the way for me.  Then suddenly the Lord you are looking for will appear in his temple.  The messenger you desire is coming with my promise, and he is on his way.

A Day of Change

On the day the Lord comes, he will be like a furnace that purifies silver or like strong soap in a washbasin. No one will be able to stand up to him.  The LORD will purify the descendants of Levi, as though they were gold or silver.  Then they will bring the proper offerings to the LORD, and the offerings of the people of Judah and Jerusalem will please him, just as they did in the past.

Don't Cheat God

The LORD All-Powerful said: 
I'm now on my way to judge you.  And I will quickly condemn all who practice witchcraft or cheat in marriage or tell lies in court or rob workers of their pay or mistreat widows and orphans or steal the property of foreigners or refuse to respect me.

MATTHEW 3:1-12
The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Mark 1.1-8; Luke 3.1-18; John 1.19-28)

Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea.  He said, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here."  John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said, "In the desert someone is shouting, `Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.' "

John wore clothes made of camel's hair.  He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.

From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the Jordan River Valley crowds of people went to John.  They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.

Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them:
You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment?  Do something to show that you have really given up your sins.  And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family.  I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.  An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.

I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins.  But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks.  He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out.

PSALM 85
A Prayer for Peace

Our LORD, you have blessed your land and made all go well for Jacob's descendants.  You have forgiven the sin and taken away the guilt of your people.  Your fierce anger is no longer aimed at us.

Our LORD and our God, you save us!  Please bring us back home and don't be angry.  Will you always be angry with us and our families?  Won't you give us fresh life and let your people be glad because of you?  Show us your love and save us!

I will listen to you, LORD God, because you promise peace to those who are faithful 
and no longer foolish.  You are ready to rescue everyone who worships you, so that you will live with us in all of your glory.

Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite.  Loyalty will sprout from the ground; justice will look down from the sky above.

Our LORD, you will bless us; our land will produce wonderful crops.  Justice will march in front, making a path for you to follow.