These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Mi 6:1-4, 6-8)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071822.cfm
Justice and mercy are not optional—they are essential. And the prophets always remind us of what is essential.
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." (Lk 10:38-42)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071722.cfm
Martha’s sister, Mary, chose to serve the Lord by sitting at his feet and listening to his words something only male disciples would do. Martha wanted the Lord to tell her sister that her place was in the kitchen. Instead the Lord praised Mary’s choice. Maybe one day the church will too.
Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. (Mi 2:1-5)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071622.cfm
We begin the Prophet Micah today. As with all the prophets, justice for the poor is a major theme. It wasn’t that Israel lacked religious devotion, they were very religious, but they lacked justice and so won the condemnation of the prophets. Today is the feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel which is celebrated not only by the Dominicans but by all the religious orders who celebrate this day in honor of their devotion to the Mother of God (today is also the feast of Our Lady of Einsiedeln, celebrated by Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Indiana).
Responsorial Psalm (Is 38:10, 11, 12ABCD, 16)
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
Once I said, “In the noontime of life I must depart! To the gates of the nether world I shall be consigned for the rest of my years.”
R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071522.cfm
The Song of Hezekiah is the basis of today’s responsorial psalm—one of the more hauntingly tragic poetic passages in the Scriptures. Stephen Hutchinson, a British artist, was fascinated with the stairway of Ahaz mentioned in the first reading and in response created The Stairway of Ahaz (2018). Saint Bonaventure fostered the intellectual development of the Franciscans and thought of Christ as the “one true master.”
Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt 11:28-30)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071422.cfm
The Lord invites because his heart is always open to us. Although she was shunned for her faith, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks, found profound peace and joy in the heart of Christ.
