The Presentation of the Source of Our Purification

This Sunday marks the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem.

In the Old Testament reading from Malachi 3:1-4 we hear the prophet give the Lord's promise of a savior who will purify the priests and the Temple,

"See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 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 fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years."

Why do we need a Savior? Because we like the sons of Levi, are in need of purification, and our offerings can only be pleasing to God when we make them in the name of Jesus.

Malachi 3:1-4 was also the inspiration for Handel who composed "And He Shall Purify" as part of his "Messiah".

The melismatic form is well illustrated in this selection, and I encourage you to try to follow your vocal part in the above video. It is a fun piece to perform and a joy to listen as we hear the Lord's promise over and over that we can be purified of all our sins by Jesus Christ.