What do you call it when economic collapse, global pandemic, and isolated families at Christmas all come together? Some call it “2020”, but James, the brother of Jesus, calls it “pure joy”. That’s right, in the opening line of his letter to the displaced Jews he writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2) What a contradiction! Similarly, in Malachi 4 we see a contrast, a frolicking calf trampling on the wicked. How can there be joy in trials, and frolicking while trampling? You may say this is implausible or utter nonsense, but if “all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16) what is the value of these opposite ideas? On this third Sunday in Advent Malachi reminds us that joy and heartache are, in many ways, two sides of the same coin.
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