And who will be able to consider the day of His advent, and who will stand firm in order to see Him? For He is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb. (Ml 3:2)
וּמִ֤י מְכַלְכֵּל֙ אֶת־יֹ֣ום בּוֹאֹ֔ו וּמִ֥י הָעֹמֵ֖ד בְּהֵרָֽאוֹתֹ֑ו כִּֽי־הוּא֙ כְּאֵ֣שׁ מְצָרֵ֔ף וּכְבֹרִ֖ית מְכַבְּסִֽים׃
et quis poterit cogitare diem adventus eius, et quis stabit ad videndum eum? Ipse enim quasi ignis conflans, et quasi herba fullonum.
Fire brings many effects when it burns. Sometimes it warms and illuminates. When it is uncontrolled, and out of control, it becomes a destructive element. In metalworking, it facilitates shape modeling. It can remove unwanted admixtures and impurities. Malachi announces that the Messiah will cleanse us of everything that does not bring glory to God. Like a fire that burns away all impurities, we too will be subjected to the power of the fire that Jesus himself spoke about. I have come to cast a fire upon the earth… (Lk 12:49)
