MERCY NOT SACRIFICE

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Year C Matthew 12:1-8 For the Pharisees sabbath is more on observing the laws and keeping regulations. Sabbath is equated to legalism: standard of regulations and ordinances. Inshort, sabbath is like this- DO THIS, DO THAT. They thought that keeping the laws are more important than helping someone in need. They thought that following the rules are far better than providing food for the hungry. Friends, put more value in people than rules. People are more important than laws. The greatest law is the good of the people. Pharisees were law orriented people but relationships destroyers. They were law abiders but charity breakers. They were faithful to the laws but don’t have love for the needy. Friends, legalism is futile if it lacks the supreme sense of worship. It obeys but it does not adore. Are we this type of people? My dear friends, if we keep on attending daily mass, faithful to our novenas, excellent in praying the rosary but blind to the needs of others there is something wrong in our spiritual life. God desire mercy not sacrifice. Friends, our belief does not make us a better person, our behaviour does. Conclusion: Our religion is not all about rituals and regulations. It is not about worship and sacrifices but most importantly itbis about mercy and compassion. Mercy is not a feeling of pity or sympathy for others. Rather, mercy moves us to action inorder to change the situation of suppression to freedom and wellness. Mercy is not pity but irrational kindness and generosity. Mercy is the essence of sabbath. Today, do not allow Sabbath limits your capacity to multiply mercy. Necessity has no law! Blessings Fr. Jhack