Scripture Reflection for Monday, July 21, Ordinary time for 16th week Year 2 lectionary #395

Scripture: 16th week in ordinary time, Mon., July 21, 2008. Micah
6:1-4,6-8.Psalm 50:5-6,8-9,16-17.21.23. Matthew 12:38-42. Lectionary # 395:

These are among the most beautiful and challenging words in the Bible
and they come from our first reading taken from the peasant prophet Micah:
"He (God) has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what the Lord requires
of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with
your God." (Micah 6:8, NRSV). Micah is a contemporary of the princely
prophet Isaiah and of Hosea. All are prophets of the 8th century B.C. We
know from what we have heard and read of Micah that his chief concern is
social justice for the people of Israel. As a peasant he knows and
experiences the injustices of his own leaders and their dealings with the
people of God, Israel. As a prophet he speaks also with the insight and
understanding that comes from God. He is the mouthpiece of the Lord for the
cry for justice. He is a prophet who not only "talks the talk, but walks
the walk." Therefore, when he summarizes the three virtues of the entire
Bible that God expects of each of us, he does us a great favor. His words
have not gone unheeded. Many leaders like popes, social justice promoters,
and those who are social workers have kept these words before the public.
They are even found next to license plates on cars.
One great scholar of Micah, Powis Smith says this about the statement
of Micah 6:8, it..."lays hold of the essential elements of religion and
detaching them from all else, sets them in clear relief. It links ethics
with piety, duty towards men (and women) with duty toward God, and makes
them both co-equal factors in religion."(Soncino Commentary on Micah,
p.181).
The words in Hebrew are Hesed (goodness or mercy), Tsedekah (Justice)
and humility (Tsana). But often the English translation does not capture
the meaning of the original Hebrew. Hesed means much more than mercy or
goodness. It implies loving-kindness and has to be translated into deeds
and actions ; walking humbly means something closer to walking in purity
and integrity with the Lord.
The citation we are reflecting upon fits in well with Matthew's
presentation of the 8 beatitudes thus confirming that Jesus came to fulfill
what was in the Torah and in the prophet Micah. Amen.