Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 18, 2022
First Reading: Micah 6.1-4, 6-8
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.
Psalm 50
1The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.2From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.3Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.4He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:5"Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."6And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah7"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.9I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,10for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.11I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.12If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?14Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,15and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."16But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?17You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.18When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.19You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.20You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son.21These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.22"Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:23He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."
Gospel: Matthew 12.38-42
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 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.