Daily Reflection for Monday, July 20, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072020.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8
Responsorial: Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23
Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42
Our reflection on Monday’s reading:
You have been told… what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
The readings today have forced me to ponder the role both biblical and modern-day prophets have in challenging my current beliefs and broadening how I might see and understand the world.
When society is sufficiently stable, I tend to see only the good in that society and am somewhat blind to the plight of the marginalized. I understand there are injustices, but I rationalize my silence on issues of the day because the vast majority is getting along just fine.
A prophet’s job is to tell us things that we do not want to hear. They speak truth to power and make everyone a little uncomfortable. With biblical prophets we have an advantage as we can see the prediction that the prophets made and see the historical outcomes based on the ancient writings. Many times, the prophet’s “wake-up” call comes too late or is ignored and their gloomy predictions are realized. Micah falls into this category.
Jonah was a prophet that ran from his duty only to be given a “do-over” after spending three days in the belly of a whale. His campaign to implore the Ninevites to repent was successful and God spared the Ninevites. Jonah however was not happy about the outcome and sulked because God had shown mercy for the same people that brought an end to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and destroyed Jerusalem in 701 B.C. The Ninevites’ reaction to the preaching of Jonah is contrasted with the failure of Jesus’ generation to obey the preaching of one who is “greater than Jonah” (Matthew 12:41-42). 1
Our job today is no different than the people living during Micah’s time. Will we hear the voice of the prophet crying out for justice or will we be satisfied with the status quo because the injustices don’t affect us? There are many prophets today vying for our attention. Some of them may lead us toward God and some are false prophets that may lead us away from God. It is so important for us to know the voice of Jesus, to be in tune with the Holy Spirit. Without these relationships, we can easily be deceived.
What modern-day prophets are you listening to today? Let us use our relationship with God, our knowledge of scripture, and our reason to discern our path forward in this world that does justice, loves goodness, and travels through life walking humbly with God.
May Christ’s peace be with you,
Paul Gunn
1 New American Bible, Revised Edition; Jonah, Introduction