Jesus calls us – together – imperfect, broken, messed-up human beings – to proclaim the good news.

Here – in Malachi and in Luke, on this Candlemas day – is the love of a God who will stop at nothing.

Words have power. And words also have consequences.

It’s not all up to us by ourselves. And that’s okay. We are church – together.

In our baptism, we hear God’s powerful, unshakeable words of promise: You are my child. Beloved. With you I am well pleased.