‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. Matthew 23:23-26
We live in a time when law and justice seem to mean only the meting out punishment, getting even, rather than mercy, faithfulness and humility. God's law of love requires all of us to be merciful and faithful, yet we want those things only for ourselves and not for others. There is no liberty or freedom without the love of our Creator who blesses us daily with abundance and new possibility. May we demonstrate our faithfulness by demonstrating justice and mercy in every moment.
Gracious Creator, you know our foolish ways
yet you love us despite our cruelty and hurt
your love is bigger than our failures and frustrations.
Put your love of justice and mercy our hearts
implant us with tender faithfulness that sees more
that the brokenness all around us each day.
Let our eyes behold you as we care for others
and let our souls be gladden as we reach out in love. Amen.
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