God “desires mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus teaches this message in today’s Gospel. In fact, he is quoting the prophet Hosea. Jesus quotes this same passage of Hosea elsewhere in this Gospel when he is having a meal with Matthew the tax collector:
“While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (9:10-13).
In today’s Gospel Jesus’ disciples are accused of violating the Sabbath by picking heads of grain and eating them. The Pharisees accused them of “doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” Jesus enters into dialogue with these religious leaders arguing that human need, hunger, permitted David and his men to eat the bread of offering that “only the priests could lawfully eat.” Secondly, Jesus argues that priest do work on the Sabbath but are not accused of violating the Sabbath. Then Jesus cites the words of Hosea, God desires that we show mercy and compassion rather than sticking to the strict letter of Sabbath regulations and traditions. We show our love of God and honor God by showing compassion and mercy to those in need.
Jesus teaches that God’s will and law is first and foremost to show mercy and compassion. As he challenged the religious teachers in his day, Jesus challenges all of us as Christians to reflect deeply on these words of God, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6). What is the mercy that God desires? Jesus teaches us through his words and actions. Mercy is eating with the outcast of society. Mercy is showing compassion to widows, orphans, immigrants, and lepers. Mercy is forgiving one another and forgiving ourselves. Mercy is the way of humility, service, and sacrifice. Jesus invites us to “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:13).
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