Daily Readings - Mon Jul 23 2018
Micah
1Listen to what the LORD says: "Stand up, plead your case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.2Hear, O mountains, the LORD's accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.3"My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.4I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.6With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?8He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Matthew
38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.42The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one 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.