Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Micah 6:1-4.6-8; Matthew
12:38-42)
The police chief of a rather large southern city was
outspoken. Murders had been increasing
in the city, but people were obsessed with police brutality. He asked, “Where is the outrage for (the
murder victims’) lives?” Noting the recent
meetings and conversations about changing law enforcement policy, he asked, “Where
are the meetings, and where are the conversations, and where are the protests
for these victims?” A similar disparity between
people’s demands and more critical needs may be found in today’s first reading.
Micah reports of the people of Judah’s attempt to appease
God for their sins. They want to offer
God multiple animal sacrifice in atonement.
Someone makes the outrageous suggestion that he sacrifice his own child
to make up for his sin. But the people overlook
what is essential. God speaks through
the prophet about what they are to do. They
must, in sum, change their hearts. His
famous command is “to do the right, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your
God.”
Murder is increasing in many places. It threatens social cohesion as it destroys
young lives and causes great sorrow. It can
be curtailed with deliberate, coordinated action. Certainly God will want us to discuss it and
to establish ways to reduce it.
