GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.

His disciples were hungry

and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,

“See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”

He said to them, “Have you not read what David did

when he and his companions were hungry,

how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,

which neither he nor his companions

but only the priests could lawfully eat?

Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath

the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath

and are innocent?

I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.

If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,

you would not have condemned these innocent men.

For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

The word of the Lord

 

Mercy

How closed the hearts of the Pharisees were. They judge and condemn the disciples for failing to keep the law, and seize the opportunity once again to accuse Jesus. How often we act in the same way with our spouse, our children, our colleagues… demanding and judging when they do not meet our expectations, applying the rule without a trace of Mercy. The Lord teaches us that the most important thing is love. He does not come to abolish the Law, but to bring it to fulfilment and fullness — yet He always places the person first. We must not offer God an empty, barren form of worship. In the words of Saint John of the Cross: “Where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.”

 

Applied to married life

Rose: Rob, I can’t take this any longer. I’ve told you a million times that the dishwasher needs to be loaded before we go to bed. Now the worktop is full of ants again — it’s the same every single day…

Rob: And what about you? You’ve left the shopping out again and the vegetables have defrosted… don’t ants go there as well?

(Their little daughter walks into the kitchen and stands there looking at them, very serious.) 

Rose: Oh, Rob… we’ve got ourselves tangled up again just like before. I’m sorry. Come here, my little one — let’s give Daddy a huge hug and I’m going to ask his forgiveness, alright?

Rob: That’s my girls! Come on, a big hug, all three of us together. I love you both so much. And of course I forgive you, Rose. Forgive me as well.

Rose: Right then, sweetheart, go and tell your brothers it’s time for breakfast. Let’s start together by blessing the table.

Rob: How quickly we fall again. Thank goodness the Lord gives us little mediations to calm our passions quickly so the fall stays small.

Rose: It hurts… In Rose’s eyes I saw fear and mistrust return. That really brought down those bad passions that led me to speak to you like that… thank you, Lord.

Rob: Right, we’re all here. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit — Lord, bless these foods…

 

Mother of Mercy, Mother of our Saviour, cover us with Your Mantle and carry us to Heaven, close to Him. Blessed and praised be the Lord.