“I desire mercy not sacrifice”
Monday, March 20th, 2006
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?”“On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matt 9:10-13“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” But wisdom is proved right by her actions.’”
Matt 11:19
I don’t know if you think it is a bit mad quoting these verses during Lent and a season of prayer and fasting [especially when I am fasting booze!]. But these verses struck me as I was reading them recently. It is classic in a period of fasting to think a lot about what we are giving up, what we are giving for the Lord. But you soon learn that Jesus was not impressed or interested by that kind of personal piety that makes you good about yourself but has not interest in others. I guess this is why the period of Lent has always had the sense of service towards others.
“I desire mercy not sacrifice”
Christian spirituality is never an individual affair. Never just “me and Jesus”. It always takes us beyond oursleves; outside of ourselves to others. Jesus instructs the Pharisees to “Go and learn it”. Otherwise the healthy get healthier and the sick get sicker.
“Wisdom is proved right by her actions”
Is it wise to eat with ’sinners’. Is it right to have the risk of being associated ith them, of being called “a drunkard and a glutton”. Jesus says look at the fruit, look at the result of such topsy-turvey wisdom. Luke quotes this verse too in Luke 7:35, right before he tells the story of Jesus ebing anounted by the ’sinful woman’. Here is the fruit of such wisdom, of such friendship - a woman pouring out love affection and ‘worship’ at Jesus feet.
Go and learn, think, consider what it might mean for you to act according to “I desire mercy not sacrifice”.
[You may want to read Isaiah 58 as you do...]
