What does God want from me?

it's simpler than we make it

This week, a friend sent me a screenshot of a scripture she had used in a prayer service that evening, saying she thought it resonated with the current time, and boy, does it. Like us, the prophet Micah lived in a time of idolatry, greed, injustice and dishonesty among its leaders. Micah called the people to repentance, righteousness and faithfulness, and in this passage, he makes what had been murky theological questions - suddenly clear.

To the questions of what is good and of what the Lord requires, Micah says, “The Lord has told you”. In other words, you already know. Because we are created by God, the truth is in us, yet so often, we pretend otherwise and we obscure the truth by adding on layers of arguments that have nothing to do with the bedrock of who God is and how He has taught us.

Should we buy animals to sacrifice? And not one but thousands? Would ten thousand rivers of oil be enough for God? Should I give God my child in atonement for my sin? These questions betray a complete misunderstanding of Who God is and what He seeks. And don’t we find similarly misguided assertions today among professed Christians who really ought to know better?

The reality of what God requires is both simple and hard. It has nothing to do with any offerings we could buy or any country we could dedicate to His name (whatever that might mean), but God’s call to us is clear and it’s both personal and relational. It’s our job to remember it and to carry it out.

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

Though Micah lived hundreds of years before Jesus, many of Jesus’ words echo this same stream of understanding, a stream that is alive in we who have the Spirit of a living God within. Love God, love one another. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Justice, kindness, humility. There was a time when we all agreed both on their importance and on what it means to practically live these words out in our daily lives, and maybe they’re the answer for every challenging circumstance we face today. When we’re not sure what to do or say, when we’re uncertain about our next steps, maybe it’s best not to overcomplicate it.

What does God ask of us, of you and me, today? The Lord has told us. We already know. In these days which can feel confusing, in which we so often find darkness masquerading as light, I pray we rise and remember.

Raised Catholic rewind:

Raised Catholic episode 25: Christian Nationalism - transcript with link to episode

Raised Catholic episode 175: Divine Connection - transcript with link to episode

What I’m recommending this week:

Podcast: Seminary Sisters with Jami Nato and Amy Seiffert

Album: The Kingdom of Jesus: Songs for the After Party, by The Porter’s Gate

Video: Something Bright, Something Shining by Jon Guerra

Prayer:

God, we sometimes make it more complicated than you would have it. Help us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. For us and our dear ones we pray in the name of Jesus and wrapped in the mantle of our Mother Mary, amen.