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<v SPEAKER_00>If I were to ask you, what does God really want from you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>I wonder how you would answer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Many people instinctively think God wants more prayers, more devotion, more sacrifices, more religious activity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We imagine that if we could just do enough prayers, do enough of everything religious, then perhaps God would finally be pleased with us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, that's exactly the question being asked in today's first reading from the prophet Micah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What should I bring before the Lord?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Should I offer burnt offerings?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Should I offer thousands of rams, rivers of oil?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Should I give my firstborn?

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<v SPEAKER_00>The questions become increasingly dramatic, almost exaggerated.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It is as though the prophet is saying, Tell me the price.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What does God want?

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<v SPEAKER_00>How much is enough?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then comes one of the greatest verses, a verse every Christian shall know by heart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You have been told, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you, only to do the right, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But notice how simple it is.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God is not asking for spectacular gestures, he's asking for faithful living.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do what's right.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Love what is good, walk humbly with God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Those three phrases summarize the spiritual life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>First, do what is right, not what's convenient, not what's popular, not what you can control, not what earns more applause.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do what is right, even when no one's watching.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Integrity is who you are when there is no audience.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Second, love goodness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Micah does not merely say do good things.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He says, no, love goodness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There's a difference.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes we do the right thing reluctantly.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We forgive because we know we have to.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We serve because it's expected.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We come to mass because it's an obligation.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But God wants more.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He wants more than outward compliance.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He wants our hearts to delight in what he delights.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Holiness is not simply changing our behavior, it is allowing God to change our desires.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And finally, we walk humbly with your God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Notice that Micah does not say run.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, he says walk.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The spiritual life is not a sprint, it's a lifelong journey, one faithful step at a time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But walking also implies companionship.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God never intended us to make this journey alone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He walks with us in our joys and our disappointments and our victories and failures, in our certainties and in our questions.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that brings us to today's gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And on the surface it sounds like a reasonable request.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But Jesus knows their hearts.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The problem is not that they lack evidence, the problem is that they lack openness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They've already witnessed miracles.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The blind have seen, the sick have been healed, demons have been cast out, but still they ask for another sign.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Show us, Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sometimes we imagine that if God would only perform one unmistakable miracle in our lives, then we would never doubt again.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But the truth is that faith is rarely destroyed by a lack of evidence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>More often it is weakened by a closed heart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus tells them that the only sign they will receive is a sign of Jonah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of the great fish, Jesus will spend three days in the tomb before rising from the dead.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The resurrection will be God's definitive answer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There will never be a greater sign than the empty tomb.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Everything in the Christian life flows from that understanding.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If Christ is risen, then we do not need another sign.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We need a deeper response.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because that's the question these readings leave us with.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We often ask God to show us something more.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, give me a sign.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, prove yourself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, I want to feel your presence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Lord, make your will unmistakable so I can understand it and reply it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And perhaps the Lord gently replies, I already have.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I sent my son, I gave him to the cross.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I raised him from the dead.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I gave you my church.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I gave you my word.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I've given you the sacraments.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I gave you the Eucharist.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What more are you waiting for?

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<v SPEAKER_00>The greatest miracles have already happened.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now the question is not whether God has spoken, the question is whether we're willing to listen.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So today, let us stop waiting for extraordinary signs and begin living the ordinary faithfulness that Micah describes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do what's right.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Love what is good.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Walk humbly with your God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>If we do that, and we do that every day, we will discover that the greatest miracle is not simply that Christ rose from the dead, it is that the risen Christ is quietly transforming our hearts one faithful step at a time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.