Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice.
From Matthew 9:13
Unexpected encounters with mercy never cease to amaze me: The store manager who shows a new employee how to bag groceries rather than chiding her for placing a dozen eggs a bit to close to the bottom of the bag; a parent who gently removes a storybook from her toddler’s ravaging hands to demonstrate appropriate page-turning rather than scolding her little one; a police officer who offers a stern warning regarding that forgotten seat belt rather than ticketing the dad who buckled in the baby appropriately, but forgot to do the same for himself; a shopper who slips a few dollars into the hand of a homeless man rather than passing judgment. Go ahead. Make your own list of merciful deeds…
Jesus was conversing with the Pharisees when he offered the comment above. His temple adversaries were upset because Jesus ate with tax collectors and other sinners. Jesus responded by making it clear that these “sinners” were precisely those to whom he had come. Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus didn’t demand further sacrifices from the suffering souls he encountered. Jesus asked only for enough of their time to extend God’s mercy to each one.
Mercy extended to those we meet along the way and mercy extended to ourselves is never a wasted effort. Mercy says it all when it comes to God.
Merciful God, thank you for loving us so completely and for making us capable of doing the same for one another!
©2024 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved
Mary Penich 
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