Readings for Celebrating Advent

The Purifier

3 “Behold, I am going to send My ^[a]messenger, and he will prepare and clear the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the ^[b]Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.^{(A) 2} But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness].^{(B) 3} He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi [the priests], and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord [grain] offerings in righteousness.