The prophet Malachi preached during the time after the exile. The restoration to Israel was not coming up roses and the people complained. “It is vain to serve God and what do we profit by keeping his command.” “What do we get out of it” seems to be a perennial human complaint. In the gospels we see St. Luke dealing with the issue. In St. Matthew the saying of Jesus reads: If you then, who are wicked know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?” St. Luke substitutes for “good things” the words “Holy Spirit.” Luke wants us to understand that what we get are spiritual benefits.
