These last days of the Church year call us to a certain sense of urgency because, as Paul reminded the Thessalonians, the Lord will return “as a thief in the night” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6).

Darkness is not the end. The dawn will come and, with it, the Bridegroom who will invite us into eternal wedding banquet of the Reign of God.

Like those leaders called out by Jesus and Malachi, we also have a special kind of covenantal relationship with those whom we are called to serve.