Catholic Commentary on Malachi 1

“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations.” (Malachi 1:11)

The Book of Malachi

Malachi (the name means my messenger) is the last book in the Old Testament canon, prophesying in Jerusalem probably around 450 BC, after the return from exile but before the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah. The people have grown complacent and the priests have become careless. The book's distinctive style is disputational: God makes a statement, the people dispute it, God expands the charge. Six disputes structure the book.

The LORD says: I have loved you. You ask: how have you loved us? I am a great king, says the LORD Almighty, and my name is to be feared among the nations. But you priests show contempt for my name. You place defiled food on my altar. You say: how have we defiled you? By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations.

The Catechism identifies Malachi 1:11 as the most explicit Old Testament anticipation of the universality of the Eucharist as the pure offering offered in every place from the rising to the setting of the sun (CCC 1350).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, in every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me. The Mass is offered somewhere on earth every hour of every day, from the rising to the setting of the sun. Malachi saw it. The pure offering that the priests of Jerusalem had profaned with their blind animals is offered perfectly and universally in every Catholic altar across the world. Do not be careless with what Malachi could only see from a distance.

Prayer

Lord God, your name is great among the nations. Let the pure offering we bring be worthy of the greatness of your name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Malachi
1
The LORD’s Love for Israel
(Genesis 25:19-28; Romans 9:6-29)
1 This is the burden of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi:* 1:1 Malachi means My messenger.
 
2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD.
 
But you ask, “How have You loved us?”
 
“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, 3 but Esau I have hated,† 1:3 Cited in Romans 9:13 and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.‡ 1:3 Or to the serpents of the wilderness or to the dragons of the wilderness”
4 Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever. 5 You will see this with your own eyes, and you yourselves will say, ‘The LORD is great-even beyond the borders of Israel.’ ”
The Polluted Offerings
 
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name.
 
“But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
7 By presenting defiled food on My altar.
 
But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You § 1:7 LXX defiled it?’
 
By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
 
9 “But ask now for God’s favor. Will He be gracious? Since this has come from your hands, will He show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
 
10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would no longer kindle useless fires on My altar! I take no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
11 For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts. 12 “But you profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is contemptible.’
 
13 You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts.
 
“You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.
 
14 “But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.

*1:1 1:1 Malachi means My messenger.

†1:3 1:3 Cited in Romans 9:13

‡1:3 1:3 Or to the serpents of the wilderness or to the dragons of the wilderness

§1:7 1:7 LXX defiled it

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