Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 18, 2022
First Reading: Micah 6.1-4, 6-8
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?
Psalm 50
1The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Gospel: Matthew 12.38-42
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 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.