Matthew 9:13
Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
Today's reading from Matthew finds Jesus telling Matthew, "Follow me." Then they dine together with other tax collectors. Others seeing this were appalled at Jesus for keeping this kind of company. After all, the tax collectors were perceived as thieves (maybe rightly so!) Jesus tells those questioning him to learn to "desire mercy, not sacrifice." Jesus wasn't interested in the traditions of making sacrifices and seeing people proclaim, "look what I've done!" He's more interested in showing mercy to those who are lacking love, food, clothing, shelter and hope. Jesus wants these people to show mercy to those who have wronged them, mercy to the sick, to the elderly, the downtrodden. We are the people that Jesus is talking to….we need to show mercy, not sacrifice for sacrifice's sake. More often than not, mercy is harder to show than sacrificing something. Keep these words of Jesus in mind when someone is guilty of an infraction against you…are you going to show mercy? Or are you going to crucify them with gossip, anger, silence, or abuse? That's what Jesus wants to know.
