Reflection from Matthew 12: 1 – 8 ‘They threw away the gifts and kept the wrappers’ Mercy is an inner attitude whereas sacrifice is an outward show of what can be an interior experience of the offerer. However, this is not always the case; the outside activity might not be an expression of the inner experience. The Pharisees, in their zeal to keep the law of sacrifice lost the inner dimension of the sacrifice. The sacrifice was supposed to be an external expression of thanksgiving to God, but it was not for it did not reflect essential dispositions of mercy and love. In this way, the Pharisees turned religion into something hard and ugly. They threw away God’s gifts of love and mercy and embraced a dry and hard law. They threw away the gifts and kept the wrappers. “What I want is mercy, not sacrifice” Lord, help me understand that religion is about relationship with you and with others. May the sacrifice of mass every Sunday be for me an expression of thanksgiving for your love and mercy. Amen
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 19:04:06 +0000
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