Malachi
Chapter 1
An oracle. These are the words that the Lord directed to Israel through Malachi.
God’s Love and Election
When the Lord says: “I love you,” you reply, “How do you show that love?” So the Lord asks you:
“Was Esau not Jacob’s brother? Yet I loved Jacob and hated Esau. See how I left his mountains desolate and abandoned his land to the jackals of the desert.
If Edom decides to rebuild its ruins, after being destroyed, the Lord of hosts says: They may rebuild, but I will demolish. You will call them: ‘Accursed country’ and ‘Nation with which the Lord is forever displeased.’
You will see this with your own eyes, then you will exclaim: The power of the Lord goes beyond the borders of Israel.”
Cultic Crimes
The son honors his father; the servant respects his master. Now, if I am a father, where is the honor owed to me? If I am your master, where is your respect for me? This is what the Lord of hosts wants you to understand, priests, who look down on his name. But you will just ask: How have we shown contempt for your name?
You present defiled foods on my altar, yet you say: How did we defile you? You think that my table does not deserve respect.
When you bring a blind animal as a sacrifice, or when you present one that is lame or sick, are you not doing wrong? Go, present these to the governor; will he be pleased and receive you well?” says the Lord of hosts.
So now, pray to God that He may have mercy on us. But if things go badly for us because of your sin, are you the ones who should beg Him?
Who among you would shut my doors so you won’t come anymore, to light a fire at my altar in vain? I am not pleased with you, says the Lord of hosts, nor am I pleased with your offerings.
See, from the rising of the sun to its setting, all nations honor my name, and everywhere incense is offered along with a pure offering. I am rightly esteemed among the nations, declares the Lord of hosts.
But you insult my name when you say, “The Lord’s table is dirty, and his food is worthless.”
When you complain that you dislike this food, you insult me, says the Lord. You bring a stolen, lame, or diseased animal to sacrifice to me. Do you think I will accept it?
Cursed is the deceiver who, after promising me a bull from his herd, sacrifices a stunted animal. For I am a great king, and my name is respected among all nations, declares the Lord of hosts.
Commentaries
God’s Love and Election.
A series of six divine statements begins, followed by questions from the people and explanations from the prophet Malachi, whose name means “My Messenger.” The first theme links God’s love to the election of Israel. Edom, descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother, according to prophetic tradition, betrayed Israel after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans (Ab 10-14). God’s love is demonstrated in history by favoring Jacob’s descendants and defeating their enemies.
Cultic Offenses.
Worship is the highest form of relationship with God, who deserves the best, not leftovers or impurity (cf. Lv 22:21-25). The prophet Malachi condemns unworthy sacrifices and shows that God accepts sincere offerings from other nations. This vision foreshadows the Eucharist, as stated by the Council of Trent, which references verses 10-11 in the third Eucharistic prayer of the Holy Mass. Through Jesus, God gave himself completely on the cross for us. And we, what do we offer to God?