The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to recognize the evil situations of injustice and greed in our society and to work through our relationship with Christ to bring justice and charity to these situations.
In the reading from the Prophet Micah, social evils are Denounced.
* [2:1–5] The cry “Ah” (hoy) begins a typical prophetic speech that is usually continued, as here (vv. 1–2), by a description of the addressees in terms of their unrighteous activities. This description is an indictment which gives the reasons for punishment announced to a particular group of people (vv. 3–5). The prophet spells out the crimes; the Lord announces the punishment, which corresponds to the crime: those who take the land of others will have their own land taken.
* [2:2] To covet the “house” and other property of the neighbor was a violation of the Decalogue (Ex 20:17; 34:24; Dt 5:21).
* [2:4] Those who take land from the less powerful will in turn have their land taken away by invaders. (Micah, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 10 is a prayer for Deliverance from Enemies.
c. [10:4] Ps 14:1; Jb 22:13; Is 29:15; Jer 5:12; Zep 1:12.
f. [10:9] Ps 17:12; Prv 1:11; Jer 5:26.
g. [10:11] Ps 44:25; 64:6; 73:11; 94:7; Ez 9:9.
The Gospel of Matthew declares Jesus as God’s Chosen Servant.
* [12:15–21] Matthew follows Mk 3:7–12 but summarizes his source in two verses (Mt 12:15, 16) that pick up the withdrawal, the healings, and the command for silence. To this he adds a fulfillment citation from the first Servant Song (Is 42:1–4) that does not correspond exactly to either the Hebrew or the LXX of that passage. It is the longest Old Testament citation in this gospel, emphasizing the meekness of Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, and foretelling the extension of his mission to the Gentiles.
* [12:15] Jesus’ knowledge of the Pharisees’ plot and his healing all are peculiar to Matthew.
* [12:19] The servant’s not contending is seen as fulfilled in Jesus’ withdrawal from the disputes narrated in Mt 12:1–14.
* [12:21] Except for a minor detail, Matthew here follows the LXX, although the meaning of the Hebrew (“the coastlands will wait for his teaching”) is similar. (Matthew, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
David Crawford comments that we find ourselves confronted with a series of smaller choices each day, and we may not recognize how our choices direct our paths. Too often time is spent on the couch, binge-watching a show, considering potential vacation destinations, or thinking about home enhancements or a new car, when it should be spent off the couch actively seeking to do God’s will.
If I really mean it when I claim that “I wish I could live a Christlike life” like the people at whom I marvel, then I need to put in the necessary work so that it becomes second nature. I must practice showing love, extending forgiveness, and seeking justice on a regular basis. Fortunately, God provides ample opportunities to practice each day with multiple small situations that allow me to work on the basics (practice the scales, if you will) and to eliminate the mistakes (and there will be mistakes). My planning time on the couch (to revisit the Micah metaphor) should be focused on developing intimacy with the Holy Spirit who will work with me and through me to bring justice. As I demonstrate trustworthiness in a few small things, Matthew 25:21 indicates that I will be trusted with more and bigger chances. Even more exciting, many of the small things – that is to say, things that seemed small to you – will turn out to be really big things for someone else. (Crawford, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “The Savior's meekness,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"The prophet celebrated in advance both the Savior's meekness right alongside his unspeakable power. Thereby he opened to the Gentiles a great and effective door. Isaiah also foretold the ills that were to overtake the Jews. He foreknew the Son's oneness with the Father: 'Israel is my chosen, my soul has accepted him; I have put my Spirit upon him' (Isaiah 42:1). For it is not as an adversary that Christ transcends the law, as if he were an enemy of the Lawgiver, but as though he were of one mind with the Lawgiver and held to the very same purposes. Then, proclaiming the Lord's meekness, Isaiah said, 'He shall not cry nor lift up his voice' (Isaiah 42:20). For his desire indeed was to enable healing in their presence. But since they pushed him away, he did not contend any further against their opposition." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 40.2.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 12:14-21 comments on a lesson for us whenever we are feeling misunderstood because of our faith. We don’t have to rush to explain our actions or defend ourselves. At the same time, we don’t want to nurture resentment against the people who might be judging us. Nor should we allow their reactions to keep us from accomplishing the work that God has called us to do.
Maybe you can think of a few people in your life who misconstrue or are puzzled by your Christian beliefs or actions. Pray for them today; ask the Lord to bless them and reveal more of his love and mercy to them. Then pray for yourself—for the courage and perseverance to follow Jesus, whatever the cost!
“Jesus, help me to accept the uncomfortable feeling of being misunderstood.” (Meditation on Matthew 12:14-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and a small town boy who preached against the “big city” evils of Jerusalem. Jesus fulfills the role of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah, a mysterious meek figure who proclaims justice to Israel. Friar Jude notes that the very Jewish Gospel of Matthew indicates the mission to the Gentiles, initially in the Magi who witness Jesus' birth.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, invites us to struggle with the paradoxical nature of God’s grace and our efforts.
Step 6, “We're entirely ready to have God remove all of these defects of character”, struggles with—and resolves—the old paradox of the chicken and the egg. It first recognizes that we have to work to see our many resistances, excuses, and blockages, but then we have to fully acknowledge that God alone can do the removing! But which should come first, grace or responsibility? The answer is that both come first.
All we can do is get out of the way and then the soul takes its natural course. Grace is inherent to creation from the beginning (Genesis 1:2), just like springtime; but it is a lot of work to get out of the way and allow that grace to fully operate and liberate.
It seems we must both surrender and take responsibility. Or, to reverse an old aphorism, we must pray as if it all depends on us, and work as if it all depends on God (yes, you read that correctly!). [1] (Rohr, n.d.)
We invoke the understanding of the Spirit to make us aware of the presence of evil in our environment and to instill hope in our relationship with God to restore truth, goodness, and charity to our society.
References
Crawford, D. (2024, July 20). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 20, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/072024.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/12?14
Meditation on Matthew 12:14-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 20, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/20/1026136/
Micah, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/micah/2?1
Psalms, PSALM 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 20, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/10?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Breathing Under Water, Week One: Weekly Summary. Retrieved July 20, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/breathing-under-water-week-one-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 20, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul20
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