Monday 20 July 2026
St Apollinaris
Micah 6:1-4, 6-8. To the upright I will show the saving power of God – Ps 49(50):5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23. Matthew 12:38-42.
Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with your God
We have heard these famous words from the prophet Micah on many occasions. It is good to come across them in context, as we do in today’s reading. There seems to be a court case, but in this case the witnesses are the mountains and the hills – in other words, the whole of creation.
The Lord reminds the listeners that God has rescued them from slavery and brought them to freedom. Have I been a burden to you? The God who seems to make burdens is not God at all. God doesn’t want offerings of calves and rams and, least of all, people. God only wants this: ‘To act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.’ The people in the Gospel are asking for a sign. They have it the wrong way round. We are supposed to be the sign.
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