THE MICAH QUOTE

INTRODUCTION

Today’s first reading for the 16 Monday in Ordinary Time has the Micah Quote.

Micah 6:8 – Can you all say that out loud three times, “Micah 6:8”, "Micah 6:8", "Micah 6:8".

Sometimes people ask people their favorite Bible Text. I’ve heard in my life time over a dozen people say, “Favorite text: Micah. Do justice. Love goodness. Walk humbly with our God.”

A FEW TRANSLATIONS

Here are a few translations of Micah 6:8:

“He has told you, O man, what is good,
And what the Lord requires of you:
Only to do justice
And to love goodness,
And to walk modestly with your God.”

– Jewish Study Bible

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?”

- New Revised Standard Version

“No, the Lord has told us what is good.

What he requires of us is this:

to do what is just,

to show constant love,

and to live in humble fellowship

with our God.”

- Good News Bible

“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.”

- New American Bible

“What is good

has been explained to you, man;
this is what Yahweh asks of you:
only this, to act justly,
to love tenderly
and to walk humbly with your God.”

- Jerusalem Bible

“He hath shewed thee, O man,

what is good;

and what doth the Lord require of thee,

but to do justly,

and to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with thy God.”

- King James Bible

MEANINGS

First justice; mishpat in Hebrew. It means righteousness, fairness. It means one is just. It means the call for fairness in business – for example right weights. It means one measures up to the Law. It means to do what is right. God has this quality – God is a just judge. We should be as well – treating all people fairly – including the poor and the unnoticed.

Next goodness; chesed or hesed in Hebrew. It means loving kindness. It means I do acts of kindness. The Hebrew phrase, “gemilut hasadim” – means just that – to do good acts, kind acts. This is what people who are in a covenant with God and each other do – have compassion, steadfast love for each other.

Lastly walking humbly with God; le chet vehatznea in Hebrew. It means that I’m not going it alone. “The Lord be with you!” means just that. To walk wisely with our God. It’s following a path, a walk, a lifestyle with God. The Jewish Study Bible in its notes says it’s like walking in a wedding procession or a funeral procession. It says the original meaning of the phrase would be, “to walk wisely with your God”. I remember being in Ireland and we were going through a small town and everyone was out on the street – waiting for something. We found out that the town baker had died and his funeral was going to go up the street we were going up just ahead of it. Imagine being wrapped up in self – in doors – ignoring the whole procession.

Micah is saying be involved with everything God is involved in – walking with God in the cool of the evening and on the way to anyone’s cross.

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily is, “Micah 6:8.”

When I am sitting with couples preparing for marriage, I like to ask what each thinks are the 3 keys to a good marriage. One answer was, “Communication. Communication. Communication.” Many say, “Communication, laughter and forgiveness.”

I also ask what they think are the 3 biggest problems in marriage. Some come up with the 3 that I read in The New York Daily News in 1967: “Money, Sex and In-Laws”.

I think it’s helpful to ask for the key ingredients, the “secrets” of life, a job, a marriage or what have you.

When we read the scriptures we often see people trying to sum things up.

Someone said Micah reduced the 613 precepts of the Law – 365 of which were negative commandments, “Thou shall not….” to 3. To be just, to practice acts of goodness and to walk humbly with our God.

Jesus reduced everything to 1 or 2: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself."

So once more if someone asks you, “What’s your favorite Bible text?” if you don’t have one, perhaps think about Micah 6: 8.

And once more, repeat after me, “Micah 6:8”, “Micah 6:8”, “Micah 6:8”.