Homily for July 20, 2018.
“And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew 12:7.
Most often, we think of “mercy” as the kindness or forgiveness we show to those who offend us. While this definition is not wrong, it does not exhaust the entire scope of mercy. From our readings today, we learn that mercy also extends to the kindness, pity, compassion and understanding which we show to person we consider to be deserving of whatever pain, punishment or accusation levelled against them.
Being merciful to others entails hearing their side of the story before jumping into conclusion. Being merciful others means refraining from partaking in jungle justice without first investigating the weight of the accusation.
Jesus and his disciples were passing through a grain of fields on the Sabbath and they were hungry so they began to pluck heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees saw it and were very quick to condemn Jesus and his disciples as sinners. In a similar way, when Jesus went to eat at the house of Matthew (who used to be a tax collector), the Pharisees were very quick to accuse Jesus of committing a sin by descending so low to be eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. In both instances, Jesus’ defence was: “Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Matthew 9:13.
When we look closely at the two occasions Jesus quotes this phrase, we find a lot of similarities. For instance, both occasions involved food. While Jesus achieved Matthew’s repentance by eating with him, Jesus used the occasion of food to teach us that He is Lord of the Sabbath. We learn from both instances that it is not all that appears sinful at face value that is actually sin.
If God were to treat us with the same kind of rashness (mercilessness) with which we treat others or apply the same amount of speed we use in condemning others, none of us would still be alive today. If there is one word which sums up our relations with God, it is mercy. And from God’s mercy, we can learn to be merciful to others.
In our first reading today, God granted fifteen more years to King Hezekiah who was at the point of death because he cried for mercy. God does not treat us according to our faults but according to our potential. His greatest gift to us and in fact, his greatest act of mercy is the life he gives to us. He continues to keep us alive despite our sinfulness so that we may have the opportunity to repent and allow our essential goodness dominate instead.
We should never be too quick in passing a sentence of condemnation to anyone.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, free me from passing premature judgement on others. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Isaiah 38:1-22, Matthew 12:1-8).*
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