Readings: Malachi 4:1–2; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–13; Luke 21:5–19

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
ris’n with healing in his wings.

It’s not Christmas yet. But, after all, the promise echoed by Charles Wesley was originally given through Malachi — “for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings” — not to a quiet, happy wonderland but to a disillusioned, doubting people, returned home from exile, but seeing little for which to hope or pray. Yet God called for resolute faith, generous obedience, and grateful worship from his people, so that all nations might know him.

Israel’s sun of righteousness shines with, well, righteousness — strength of character, commitment to justice and mercy, life in community, alignment to the truth of God and God’s purposes, reverence for God’s name, steadfast refusal of evil and idolatry. That’s where light and life, where healing, come from.