Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 18, 2022
First Reading: Micah 6.1-4, 6-8
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
Psalm 50
1A Psalm of Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord has spoken, and he has called the earth, from the rising of the sun even to its setting2from Zion, the brilliance of his beauty3God will arrive manifestly. Our God also will not keep silence. A fire will flare up in his sight, and a mighty tempest will surround him4He will call to heaven from above, and to the earth, to discern his people5Gather his holy ones to him, you who order his covenant above sacrifices6And the heavens will announce his justice. For God is the judge7Listen, my people, and I will speak. Listen, Israel, and I will testify for you. I am God, your God8I will not reprove you for your sacrifices. Moreover, your holocausts are ever in my sight9I will not accept calves from your house, nor he-goats from your flocks10For all the wild beasts of the forest are mine: the cattle on the hills and the oxen11I know all the flying things of the air, and the beauty of the field is with me12If I should be hungry, I would not tell you: for the whole world is mine, and all its plentitude13Shall I gnaw on the flesh of bulls? Or would I drink the blood of goats14Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the Most High15And call upon me in the day of tribulation. I will rescue you, and you will honor me16But to the sinner, God has said: Why do you discourse on my justices, and take up my covenant through your mouth17Truly, you have hated discipline, and you have cast my sermons behind you18If you saw a thief, you ran with him, and you have placed your portion with adulterers19Your mouth has abounded with malice, and your tongue has concocted deceits20Sitting, you spoke against your brother, and you set up a scandal against your mother’s son21These things you have done, and I was silent. You thought, unjustly, that I ought to be like you. But I will reprove you, and I will set myself against your face22Understand these things, you who forget God; lest at any time, he might quickly take you away, and there would be no one to rescue you23The sacrifice of praise will honor me. And in that place is the journey by which I will reveal to him the salvation of God
Gospel: Matthew 12.38-42
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 toward a deeper understanding of faith and living a virtuous life. The first reading from Micah emphasizes God's call to His people to move beyond mere rituals and sacrifices. Micah highlights that true worship is not about external acts but about living justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. This message was crucial during Micah's time, as Israel had strayed from genuine worship, focusing instead on empty rituals. The passage reminds us that faith must be reflected in our actions, prioritizing justice and compassion.
The Gospel from Matthew complements this by illustrating Jesus' response to the Pharisees' demand for a sign. Jesus points to the sign of Jonah, symbolizing His own resurrection, and compares the current generation unfavorably to the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South, who responded with repentance and wisdom. This underscores that true faith is not about seeking signs but about recognizing and responding to God's presence in our lives. Jesus' message challenges us to look beyond the superficial and to embrace a life of repentance and openness to God's wisdom.
Together, these readings teach us that faith is not merely about external practices or seeking miracles but about living with integrity, justice, and humility. They call us to examine our actions and ensure they reflect God's love and justice. Let us strive to embody this in our daily lives, remembering that true faith is about living a life that honors God through our deeds and our hearts.