Like many, I am quite certain, I am able to act justly. But to love tenderly and to walk humbly is a challenge. Yet all three is what the Lord our God asks of us. It is certainly not impossible otherwise He would not have commanded it of us. We on our part must desire to do His Will for us and through Jesus our Lord; we will most certainly be able to overcome all the obstacles either we have placed before us ourselves or placed by others.
I know deep within that I can certainly love more tenderly and walk more humbly if I put in more more effort on my part to grow more deeply in my relationship with my Lord through His Word and walking more often in His presence through prayer. I must simply overcome the inertia and pure laziness on my part and stop looking to the distractions of the world!
Lord Jesus Christ You alone are the sign of God our Father’s love for me and You are all I will ever need. Draw me closer to You this day and everyday. Amen
First reading
Micah 6:1-4,6-8 ·
The Lord asks only this: to act justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly
Listen to what the Lord is saying:
Stand up and let the case begin in the hearing of the mountains and let the hills hear what you say.
Listen, you mountains, to the Lord’s accusation, give ear, you foundations of the earth, for the Lord is accusing his people, pleading against Israel:
My people, what have I done to you, how have I been a burden to you? Answer me.
I brought you out of the land of Egypt, I rescued you from the house of slavery; I sent Moses to lead you, with Aaron and Miriam.
– ‘With what gift shall I come into the Lord’s presence and bow down before God on high?
Shall I come with holocausts, with calves one year old?
Will he be pleased with rams by the thousand, with libations of oil in torrents?
Must I give my first-born for what I have done wrong, the fruit of my body for my own sin?’
– What is good has been explained to you, man; this is what the Lord asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.
Gospel
Matthew 12:38-42
There is something greater than Solomon here
Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’ He replied, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.’
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