Word to the Wise
Friday, July 2, 2010 - Friday in the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
[Amos 8:4-6, 9-12 and Matthew 9:9-13]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.
In yesterday's gospel scripture, those who objected to Jesus' claim to forgive sins were the scribes - known as experts in the Mosaic Law. Today the objectors to the behavior of Jesus' disciples (and presumably to Jesus as well) are the Pharisees - those who tried to live the Mosaic Law closely. On this occasion their objection is to the company that Jesus and the disciples kept! Tax collectors were considered unclean because they worked for the pagan Romans and handled money considered to be unclean! Those referred to as "sinners" may have been engaged in trades that were considered unclean as well as immoral behavior. There were many categories. In any case, these people who were shunned by many found themselves welcome in Jesus' presence. When Jesus hears the Pharisees questioning this, he puts his finger on the issue right away. He is being merciful to those for whom Pharisees have very little mercy. The importance of this incident should be clear for us all. There are many causes of bias and prejudice. Occasionally our own religious blindness can cause us to be lacking in mercy. When we see that a person has not shown mercy, we are often inclined to withhold mercy ourselves. This is especially true in cases of capital punishment. But it occurs when we think someone belongs to a class of people for which we have a particular dislike. These people become the tax collectors, sinners or Samaritans in our lives. Immediately we wonder why anyone would have anything to do with such people. Perhaps we need to listen to what Jesus says to the Pharisees and learn what God truly expects of us. Religious observance without mercy to our brothers and sisters is unacceptable to God. AMEN
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