Looks can be deceiving
Last Sunday of the Church Year
November 23, 2025 8:00 am
Prayer
Scripture
Malachi 3:13-18
Meditation
We’ve all heard the common phrase, “Looks can be deceiving”. What you see is not always what you get. A person, place, or an object may be very different from how they initially appear at first glance. The saying emphasizes the importance of looking beyond superficial appearances to understand the true nature or quality of something or someone.
This Sunday is the Last Sunday of the Church Year before we enter the Season of Advent. It sounds so final yet looks can be deceiving. The readings give us glimpses of what at first glance looks unfair but it turns out that our God is a Just God and His Will is always being done no matter how it may first appear.
The Prophet Malachi calls us the Lord’s “treasured possession”. We matter to Him and Christ has paid the price for those who believe. St. Paul proclaims, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” The Gospel of Luke reminds us of the price paid for our sinfulness as Jesus hangs on the cross. His crucifixion looks as horrible as it was, but we have life eternal because He willingly died so that we might have Life in His name. While looks may be deceiving, there is “nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39)