We are reading from the Book of the Prophet Malachi. Commentators call him a minor prophet and we read from his writings in our lectionary only one day. Hardly anything is known about him. The best guess is that he wrote shortly after or shortly before the Jews returned from exile in Babylon, and he describes what they were like.

The USCCB commentary says they have a “weary attitude, a cynical notion that nothing is to be gained by doing what God wants and that wrongdoers prosper.” In other words, they have given up and have no hope in God’s plan. They have given up hope in their own religious tradition. 

You have said, “It is vain to serve God,
and what do we profit by keeping his command,
And going about in penitential dress
in awe of the LORD of hosts?
Rather must we call the proud blessed;
for indeed evildoers prosper,
and even tempt God with impunity.”

Malachi may be a minor prophet, but minor prophets need to be heard too. Could he be describing our weary attitude today? How many have given up hope in their religious tradition, hope in the world, hope in God?

Yet, God is faithful. He has promised to “speak to the weary, a word that will rouse them.”  Another prophet said that.  There’s an interesting line in the reading from Malachi: “Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another,
and the LORD listened attentively.” Those who fear the Lord need to talk with one another. Good advice.

This is a time to listen to the prophets.