And now, O priests, …if you do not…give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. Malachi 2:1-2
God, through Malachi, warns his priests: If they—the persons who bring God’s blessings into the world—turn away from God’s ways, they provoke the opposite. We’ve witnessed this to be true. We’ve been hurt and scandalized by the sins of some errant priests and certain leaders. The fallout has been devastating. In the Gospel, Jesus instructs us to disregard religious leaders who abuse their offices: “…do not follow their example” (Matthew 23:3). These verses remind us that there will always be some leaders who do evil. Amid these challenges we are all—priests and laity—called to follow God and his Word, even when it seems hard or unpopular. Lord God, strengthen us and especially your priests and church leaders with the fortitude to pray, take heart and do good anyway—bearing hope and healing through Christ.
Pat Gohn
Originally published November 5th, 2023
