Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Being somewhat of a “rules” person, I almost hate to admit that I can relate to the Pharisees in today’s gospel passage (Matthew 12:1-8). Of course I’d like to think of myself as being on Jesus’ side in this argument. But I also know myself well enough that, at least at some point in my life, I would have been thinking, if not acting, like the Pharisees in pointing out that Jesus’ disciples were not following the sabbath laws when they picked the heads of grain and ate them while walking through a field hungry.
Granted, the Pharisees were trying to find fault with Jesus since they perceived him as a threat. In defense of myself, my motivation would more likely be to make sure they understood the rules and avoided breaking them because that’s the “right” thing to do; which is helpful much of the time, but not always. I’m thankful for Jesus’ willingness to challenge the system in a sense, because being too rigid in our rule-following misses the point. And that’s basically what I think Jesus is saying to the Pharisees when he replies, “If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men.”(vs 7)
The gospel writer apparently also found this to be important as this is the second time (that I’m aware of) Jesus’ words to the Pharisees include, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” quoting the book of Hosea (6:6). My previous reflection two weeks ago was about the other time (coincidence? I think I’d better pay attention if I didn’t “get it” the first time!).
So, what is the message here? I think it is about God preferring our hearts of love and acts of mercy over the kind of judgement that comes from a too-rigid following of or interpretation of certain rules for righteousness sake or other gains.
Today’s Responsorial Psalm (116) is one of thanksgiving and includes the verse, “I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord” (vs 17). Perhaps that is the kind of “sacrifice” we are called to make: a prayer of thanksgiving for all the good God has done for us -- the goodness of God’s mercy and love and salvation. We don’t have to “get it right” so much as receive and offer the gifts of love and mercy freely given. And for that I’m truly thankful. May God be praised.
~Eileen Miller