Refiner’s Fire | February 2, 2016

 February 2, 2016

You have probably heard the term Refiner’s Fire before but what does it mean to go through the refiner’s fire?  The process to purify precious metal is with fire and it has to do with the removal of impurities that make the precious metal LESS than it should be. In the Christian life, we are so often weighed down by our own insecurities, doubts, busyness, burn out and fatigue, sin, and shortcomings. We focus on outward appearances rather than our soul. In short, we don’t reflect the image and glory of God or we don’t feel worthy enough to do so, and we are LESS than we should be.

A life in the Spirit is a life purified by love, cleansed in mercy, and filtered by grace. Fire can take on many forms in our lives ranging from the warm glow of a tenderhearted conversation, to the raging flurry of a crisis of faith or health or relationship, from the cuddly glimmer of a fireplace moment of beauty, to the unpredictable torrent of a brush fire of addiction. Fire is both tender and wild and so is the Holy Spirit.

Refiner’s Fire

A women’s Bible study group once studied the third chapter of Malachi and they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse. “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” One lady’s opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ, so she decided to visit a silversmith and report back with her findings. She did not tell the silversmith the reason she was there and asked him to teach her about the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. “But Sir,” she said, “do you SIT while the work of refining is going on?” “Oh, yes madam,” replied the silversmith, “I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.” The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Christ sees it necessary to put His children into a furnace. His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said that he had one more thing to tell her. “The way that I know the purification process is complete, is when I can see my own reflection in the silver.” Beautiful example! When Christ shall see His own image in His people, His work of purifying will be accomplished.

Let the fire that is within you refine the impurities that make you LESS than you were created to be. Take a moment to think about those things and imagine them in a furnace of God’s mercy. Now go to a mirror and see a refined soul, the very reflection of the glory of God.  Today’s first reading reminds us that God is not finished with us yet…yay and the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus reminds us that Jesus is the refiner’s fire through which we are purified…yay!

Reading 1 MAL 3:1-4

Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the LORD,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Responsorial Psalm PS 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Reading 2 HEB 2:14-18

Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

Alleluia LK 2:32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. 
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go 
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.