In today’s Gospel Jesus once again cites the prophet Hosea, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13; 12:7). Neither the prophet Hosea nor Jesus wants to do away with the cult, the sacrificial system and worship of the Jews. The cult and solemn festivals were central for the religious life of both Hosea and Jesus. In today’s first reading from Exodus after giving the prescriptions for Passover God declares to Israel: “This day will be a day of remembrance for you, which your future generations will celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD; you will celebrate it as a statute forever.” Jesus celebrated this Passover meal with his disciples at the Last Supper. Passover is the feast of Jewish redemption, liberation from slavery in Egypt. Redemption literarily means freedom from slavery. For Christians, Jesus is our new Passover who frees us from slavery to Sin.
While neither Hosea nor Jesus do away with Passover or Sabbath, they place compassion and mercy above the literal observance of all the prescriptions of these holy days. In today’s Gospel when the Pharisees accuse Jesus’ disciples of doing work by picking heads of grain and eating it, he defends them by citing the prophet Hosea: “I [God] desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6). Observance of the Sabbath rest is important, but this observance should always be done with mercy and compassion. Jesus responds to the Pharisees: “Let my disciples eat, they are hungry! Show some compassion, be merciful.”
Jesus put this same challenge of Hosea before you and me. God desires worship and that we keep holy Sunday, the Christian Sabbath. Even more God desires mercy and compassion. Sometimes we may need to break the literal letter of the law to observe the true meaning behind the law: God’s will and desire is that we always strive to show mercy and compassion.
Image: “Maundy Thursday II – Passover and Last Supper” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.