Daily Readings - Mon Jul 20 2020
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith and our response to God’s presence in our lives. In the first reading from Micah, the prophet challenges Israel to recognize God’s judgment and to understand what truly pleases Him. Micah emphasizes that God does not desire elaborate sacrifices or outward displays of piety but rather a life lived with justice, mercy, and humility. This message was spoken in a time when Israel had turned away from God’s covenant, pursuing instead corruption and injustice. Micah calls the people back to the heart of their relationship with God, reminding them that true worship is about how they live, not just what they say.
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the Pharisees and scribes who demand a sign from him. He rejects their request, pointing out that their generation is evil and adulterous because it seeks signs rather than responding to the presence of God already among them. Jesus then references Jonah and the Queen of the South, who repented at the preaching of Jonah and sought the wisdom of Solomon, respectively. He makes it clear that He is greater than Jonah and Solomon, and yet, many still refuse to see the sign of His presence. This passage highlights the tension between those who seek proof and those who trust in God’s Word.
These readings remind us that faith is not about seeking signs or guarantees but about trusting in God’s presence and living in accordance with His will. Like the people of Micah’s time, we are called to act with justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. And like the generation in Jesus’ time, we must not let our hearts grow hard or our eyes blind to the signs of God’s love already at work in our lives. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects our faith? Are we trusting in God’s presence, or are we waiting for some sign before we act? May we respond to God’s call with humility, mercy, and openness to His will.