Daily Readings - Mon Jul 23 2018
Micah
1Listen to what the Lord says: Rise, contend in judgment against the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice2Let the mountains listen to the judgment of the Lord, and the strong foundations of the earth. For the judgment of the Lord is with his people, and he will enter into judgment with Israel3My people, what have I done to you, or how have I assailed you? Respond to me4For I led you out of the land of Egypt, and I freed you from the house of servitude, and I sent before your face Moses, and Aaron, and Miriam6What worthy thing might I offer to the Lord, as I bend the knee before God on high? How could I offer holocausts to him, and one year-old calves7Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with many thousands of fat he-goats? How could I give up my firstborn because of my evil deed, the fruit of my womb because of the sin of my soul8I will reveal to you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires from you, and how to act with judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk carefully with your God
Matthew
38Then certain ones from the scribes and the Pharisees responded to him, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.39And answering, he said to them: "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. But a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah40For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights41The men of Nineveh shall arise in judgment with this generation, and they shall condemn it. For, at the preaching of Jonah, they repented. And behold, there is a greater than Jonah here42The Queen of the South shall arise in judgment with this generation, and she shall condemn it. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, there is a greater than Solomon here
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound messages that guide us in our faith journey. The first reading from Micah reminds us that God's expectations go beyond rituals. Micah conveys God's plea, recounting the blessings bestowed upon His people, such as liberation from Egypt. Yet, God seeks not sacrifices, but a life of justice, mercy, and humility. This emphasizes that true faith is lived through our actions, not just our offerings.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees. They seek a sign, but Jesus refers them to the sign of Jonah, symbolizing his resurrection. He highlights the responsiveness of the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, who recognized God's wisdom. This serves as a call to us to move beyond seeking signs and instead embrace genuine faith, recognizing the greatness of Jesus in our midst.
Both readings intertwine, urging us to reflect on our response to God. Micah calls for ethical living, while Matthew emphasizes faith over signs. In our daily lives, this means aligning our actions with our faith, living justly, and humbly walking with God. The moral lesson is clear: our faith should be a lived experience of justice, mercy, and humility, trusting in God's presence without needing constant signs. Let us strive to embody this truth in our lives.