Years ago, the director of religious education at my former parish asked if I could help out as a sponsor for the RCIA program. I had no idea how much I would learn and relearn! It was great. One evening the director posed this question, “Is it wrong for a mother who can’t feed her children, to steal food for them?”
I still wrestle with this question. Stealing is wrong. Is it considered stealing though if the child is starving? How does God see the situation?
Choose Mercy
That is what today’s gospel is getting at when Jesus responds to the Pharisees. Sometimes we get very wrapped up in the legalistic parts of life that we forget about compassion.
“I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” says the Lord. It is one thing to know about God and acknowledge Him. It is an entirely different thing to know God and behave accordingly.
This week, and in the weeks ahead, pay attention to your habits. Acknowledge where and when you can respond with mercy. Live as the Lord has instructed and love your neighbor mercifully.
