Catholic Commentary on Malachi 4

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents.” (Malachi 4:5-6)

The Day of the LORD; Elijah the Prophet

Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act. Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.

The Catechism identifies the sending of Elijah as the figure of John the Baptist, who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for the Lord and turn hearts (CCC 718).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, he will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents. The last word of the Old Testament is about family reconciliation: the healing of the generational fractures that every fallen community accumulates. The ministry of preparation that precedes the great day is the ministry of turning hearts toward one another. Let the spirit of Elijah do its work in your family. Turn. The day is coming.

Prayer

Lord God, send the spirit of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents and children to one another before the great day comes. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

4
The Day of the LORD
(Zephaniah 1:7-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-13)
1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”
 
2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,* 4:2 Or the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. 3 Then you will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the LORD of Hosts.
 
4 “Remember the law of My servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him for all Israel at Horeb.† 4:4 That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai
 
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome ‡ 4:5 Or dreadful; LXX glorious Day of the LORD. 6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.§ 4:6 Cited in Luke 1:17 Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

*4:2 4:2 Or the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings

†4:4 4:4 That is, Mount Sinai, or possibly a mountain in the range containing Mount Sinai

‡4:5 4:5 Or dreadful; LXX glorious

§4:6 4:6 Cited in Luke 1:17

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