“What do you want? Not a whole laundry list. Just one thing. What is the one thing that you want to ask from God? This was the advice of Irish Poet Padraig O Tuoma at a poetry prayer workshop a few weeks ago. And then he paused and said, “And tell the truth.”
Those words have been haunting me these past weeks. There is so much to want that I want to ask from God: an end to division and strife; safety for neighbors; food for the hungry; justice for all. And that Truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth be told.
But today’s lesson from Micah raises a different question. God takes the people of God to court, with the hills and mountains and all of creation as witnesses. (It’s a good thing that God doesn’t ask them to testify against us…because we don’t have a very good track record of caring for the earth. But God doesn’t do that. Instead, God asks the people why we have abandoned God and God’s ways? Are we bored? Wearied by God? And then, God recounts a few of the ways that God has shown God’s love for us.
Micah, speaking for the people, cries out that we are guilty as charged. What do YOU want Lord? How do we make amends? Will an animal sacrifice be enough? Or will it take rivers of oil – far more than anyone could ever provide? Or do we, like some of the kings of Jesus’ day, have to sacrifice our children, sending them through the fire for our sins. How much will it cost?
But God is not interested in a transactional relationship. You cannot buy God’s favor.
Instead, God replies, “You know.” You know what is good. Micah captures it beautifully in this one verse: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. This is what God wants: Do justice. Love Kindness. These two are pretty straightforward. The third requirement however, doesn’t translate quite as well. Because instead of something that we can simply do, the last “requirement,” translated as “walk humbly with your God” indicates a humble relationship with God and those who are with God, that is ongoing, every day.
And who are those who are with God? Jesus shows us. In the paragraph right before today’s Gospel when he sits down to teach, Jesus is busy. Matthew writes:
Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, people possessed by demons or having epilepsy or afflicted with paralysis, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” Jesus healed a lot of people from a lot of places.
It is only after healing all these people that Jesus sits down with his disciples on the top of the mountain and begins to teach them, Blessed are the poor in spirit… the meek, those who mourn… those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers.. and those who are persecuted in the name of righteousness.”
The people that Jesus speaks about are not the rich and famous who hold positions of power and might. These are those in need – and Jesus promises that they will be filled, healed, cured and that they belong to the Kingdom of God.
This is how Jesus does justice and shows kindness.
And so, blessed are you when you pray for a friend who is at her wits end; blessed are you when you bring food to a family who is hungry; blessed are you when you stand up for peace with justice. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you because of Jesus.
This isn’t a comfortable place to be. But it is made better when we remember that we are simply joining Jesus with the poor, the immigrant, the outcast, the stranger. But be careful not to exclude anyone. For the truth is, if you or I ever draw a line and say that Jesus is not with “them.” We had better take a second look. Jesus always shows up where we least expect him.
So… how do we do justice? Love kindness? Walk humbly with Jesus?
Perhaps it is best to start with humility, praying for the Holy Spirit to lead us. And then, our eyes will be opened to the injustice in the world and on our street. Our hearts will be crack open to care for those who are hurting. Our feet will march. Our voices will sing. We will declare the way of the Lord Jesus is the way of justice, Truth, and life. And we will do it all with kindness.
It's a tall order. Sometimes it feels aspirational. Sometimes I – maybe we – wonder if we are doing enough? But as a wise woman that I had a conversation with this past week as she was cutting my hair said, “we do what we can, when we can.”
And so, to go back to the question, “What do you want?” What do you want to ask of God?” I pray that my heart’s desire – and yours will be what God wants for us: to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God and all of God’s beloved people. In Jesus name. Amen.
February 1, 2026 + Faith-Lilac Way + Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane