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.
Responsorial Psalm 49(50):5-6,8-9,16-17,21,23
I will show God’s salvation to the upright.
‘Summon before me my people
who made covenant with me by sacrifice.’
The heavens proclaim his justice,
for he, God, is the judge.
‘I find no fault with your sacrifices,
your offerings are always before me.
I do not ask more bullocks from your farms,
nor goats from among your herds.
‘But how can you recite my commandments
and take my covenant on your lips,
you who despise my law
and throw my words to the winds,
‘You do this, and should I keep silence?
Do you think that I am like you?
a sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me
and I will show God’s salvation to the upright.’
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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A call to justice, mercy and humility
In the first reading from the prophet Micah, God asks His people, “My people, what have I done to you?” He reminds them of His patient love and how He has rescued them from slavery. He has walked with them throughout their journey. He then reveals what He truly wants from them in response to His love. He does not seek impressive offerings, but a changed life: “to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” Today, God asks us to remember His love in our story so far, and calls us to respond to His love by living a life of justice, mercy and a humble relationship with Him.
In the Gospel, some scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a “sign.” However, they ignore the greatest sign already present: Jesus Himself. Like them, we often look for signs while missing God’s presence in the ordinary ways, such as in Scripture, in the Eucharist, in the people who love us, and in the silence of our hearts. Today, let us recognise Jesus’ presence and respond to Him by choosing honesty over convenience, compassion over indifference, humility over pride.
Reflective question:
What is the one concrete way I can respond to God’s love today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
