I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice

At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.’ He said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.’ He left that place and entered their synagogue; a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?’ so that they might accuse him. He said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.’ Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Matthew 12:-14

Jesus is often confronted by the religious leaders of his time. His behavior was seen as outside of their laws. Yet many of the laws made it impossible for marginalized to eat and survive. The life of faithfulness carried a heavy price. Many could not afford it due to circumstances. The church throughout history has gone astray when we put a high price on faithfulness. Some have to eat when they can, work when they are able and participate when it’s possible for them. Too often shame has met them at the doors of the church. Listening to the stories of the Reformation here in Scotland, sometimes once price was replaced with another. Yet Jesus fed them and healed them when they had need and not when everything was perfect.

Tender Creator, your heart is with your creation

With the least, the vulnerable, the young, the old

And those on the margin who no one has let in.

We close our doors and build bigger fences

Yet we feel less safe and a paranoid daily

And despite it all you care for each one.

Turn us from all fear and anguish today

So we might see the ones who need us most

And respond as followers of Jesus today. Amen.