Daily Readings - Mon Jul 23 2018
Micah
1Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.2Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.3O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.4For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.6Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Matthew
38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is 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.