Requirements

Homily for Monday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time

Verse eight from chapter six of the Prophet Micah is arguably one of the most familiar verses of the Hebrew Scriptures. 

Much is required of us in school, in business, and in our work. We deal with requirements every day of our lives. The requirements which God places upon us are not burdensome.  When one thinks about it carefully, all of the commandments and all of the expectations of a disciple of Jesus are wrapped up in these very simple words.  Do Right.  Love Goodness.  Walk humbly.  Yet we seem to find it rather difficult. Once again the self-centeredness that we call sin makes these simple instructions almost counter-cultural.

Set against the six hundred and thirteen commandments that we find in the Torah, these three simple statements tend to say it all. Micah would have been familiar with the Torah. He is able to state it very succinctly.

St. Augustine is famous for making it even simpler. He tells us to “Love God and do whatever you will.” He understood that one who really loves God will only do what is right and just.

Sometimes we tend to complicate our lives by all of the “should’s” that we place upon ourselves. The Scriptures today make it all very simple. Jesus also simplifies matters for us. “Love one another as I have loved you.” The Eucharist we celebrate each day reminds us of how much Jesus loved us. Now it is up to us to love in return.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator