Readings:
Micah 6: 1 – 4, 6 – 8
Matthew 12: 38 – 42
Reflection:
The scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. They wanted to see Jesus do a great miracle, like heal a crippled man, or raise a dead person to life, or make the sun dance in the sky so that then they would believe in him.
Jesus countered: “It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign !”
Sometimes we feel inclined to say to God – “God, please do something wonderful for me and then I will know you hear my prayer and I will really really believe in you!” I am not against praying for a miracle when we are desperate and we really need the hand of God. But when I pray like we want a miracle so that then I will believe, I am then putting God to the test – a bit like Satan who said to Jesus:-
“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”(Mat. 4:3)
Faith does not depend on instant miracles, because then it would not be faith. Faith is to believe in the Word of God because it is God’s Word – it is a leap into the dark, trusting in God’s love and truth.
So we hear God speak to us by the prophet Micah:
“What is good has been explained to you, mortal woman/ mortal man!
This is what the Lord asks of you – only this,
to act justly – to show right relations to God and to your fellow man and woman;
to love tenderly – from the heart,
and to walk humbly with your God!” (Micah 6:8)
Let us ponder these words and live by them in Christ today!
Pat McIndoe CP, a Passionist at St. Joseph, Port Moresby, PNG.