Walk Humbly with God

Readings for Monday July 19, 2010

First Reading: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50
Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42


With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. (Mi. 6:6-8)

Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries; these are typically times where we buy people gifts for those special occasions. During these times of gift giving, most of us are presented with the difficult task of buying a gift for someone who really doesn't need anything. We all have those people, who every year for either Christmas or their birthday, we struggle with what to get that person. We think about a new gadget, but then ask would they even use it? We think about clothes, but then remember that for the past five years we have been buying them sweaters ... interestingly that you have never seen them wear. You consider a gift card, but don't like how impersonal it is. And so it goes on and on, and we go crazy and become consumed with what to buy the person who doesn't need anything.

God is kind of like that person who doesn't need anything. Sometimes we try very hard to think of what will please God the most. So we try and give some money to the parish or the poor. We volunteer for various ministries. We show up to mass every Sunday dressed nicely and on time. Now, don't get me wrong, these are all wonderful things, and we should be trying to do all of them, but while doing these things, we cannot lose our focus of what the most important thing is ... to know God personally. We can spend lots of time trying to do things, but doing all of these things will mean nothing if we do now know God and if we are not doing them out of love for God.

The prophet Micah today has great words of wisdom for those only seeking to do something: "You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God." The people of the old testament became so consumed with what to do for God, what to sacrifice, that they completely forgot and lost sight of their love for Him, their relationship with Him. As we all know, a relationship will not last if the people involved do not spend time just being with each other. It is the same for our relationship with God, if we are to have a good, thriving relationship with Him, then we need to spend time with Him; to walk humbly with our God.

In the midst of our busyness, may we never lose sight of what should be the most important thing in our lives ... our Lord.

Father above, we thank you and give you praise. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with, thank you for all that you give to us. Lord, thank you for the gift of our lives, help us to be good stewards of the gifts that you give to us. Lord, you are our rock and our salvation, help us never to veer from your path. Lord, increase our faith, so that we may cling to you and walk closer by you, as a child does with their parent. We pray for all of those in need of conversion, may they be brought into your loving arms. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.