This blog follows the daily bible readings of the Catholic Church

Reading 1, Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

1 Now listen to what the Lord says: ‘Stand up, state your case to the mountains and let the hills hear what you have to say!’

2 Listen, mountains, to the case as the Lord puts it, give ear, you foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a case against his people and he will argue it with Israel.

3 ‘My people, what have I done to you, how have I made you tired of me? Answer me!

4 For I brought you up from Egypt, I ransomed you from the place of slave-labour and sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam to lead you.

6 ‘With what shall I enter the Lord’s presence and bow down before God All-high? Shall I enter with burnt offerings, with calves one year old?

7 Will he be pleased with rams by the thousand, with ten thousand streams of oil? Shall I offer my eldest son for my wrong-doing, the child of my own body for my sin?

8 ‘You have already been told what is right and what the Lord wants of you. Only this, to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.’

Eight centuries before Christ, Micah gave a classic definition of true religion; to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God. That applies to all religions, at least, to all with a God. Almost all of the horrors of bad religion, from emotional hogwash to righteous persecution, would be prevented if people obeyed Micah. It might also form the question to ask all who think they are called to religious leadership: have you done justice, loved kindness and walked humbly, and will you continue to do so? That might exclude most of the horrible people, from lazy office holders to grace-proud authoritarians.

Gospel, Matthew 12:38-42

The sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said, ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’

39 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. 40 For as Jonah remained 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. 41 On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and they will be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and look, there is something greater than Jonah here. 42 On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look, there is something greater than Solomon here.

True prophets do not give signs of their authority: they are signs of God’s presence. Jesus refuses to do tricks, he simply continues his ministry. The church of Jesus should be the same: no tricks, no publicity, no celebrity, just the patient continuation of Jesus’ ministry, just the same readiness for cross and resurrection. Whether many or few wish to belong is not important: only the announcement and living of the gospel matters.

“Some will hate you, some will love you/ some will flatter, some will slight./ Cease from Man and look above you:/trust in God and do the right.”