PREFERRING EMPTY SACRIFICE TO MERCY
No sin or
weakness silences Jesus' word of grace.
Among
the Jews, tax collectors were a despised group. They were Jews themselves, but
they acted on behalf of the occupying Roman government. As such they were
considered traitors. They received no pay from the Romans. They made their
living by overcharging their fellow countrymen; what was over and above the
required tax they were allowed to keep for themselves. For that they were
considered thieves. As traitors and thieves, they were treated with hatred and
contempt, but not by Jesus.
In
a way one cannot blame the Pharisees for objecting to Jesus eating with tax
collectors. After all, Amos the prophet did condemn those Israelites who had
cheated at business deals and taken advantage of the poor. What the Pharisees
failed to understand was that Amos meant his words of condemnation as an
admonition, which would lead to repentance. He was like a doctor who warns a
patient that his way of living is so injurious to his health that if it
continues it will prove fatal.
Jesus
stated his identical concern clearly: "People who are in good health do
not need a doctor; sick people do" (Mt 9:12). Jesus associated with known
sinners to offer them the medicine of repentance. But then He turned the tables
on the Pharisees by saying, "Go and learn the meaning of the words, 'It is
mercy I desire and not sacrifice'" (Mt 9:13). This too was a message from
Amos. The Israelites of his day were exact, if not devout, in observing the
prescriptions of the law about worship, but they were unmerciful in their
dealings with others, especially in business matters. The Pharisees considered
themselves observers of the law, but their hearts were not filled with mercy
and compassion toward their fellow people.
We
all at one time or another in our lives long for healing and hunger to be fed.
St. Paul says in Romans: "Yet in faith we believe that no unworthiness
closes the door to Jesus' welcome." No sin or weakness silences Jesus'
word of grace. When Jesus welcomes us to His table, we come not because we have
managed to get our lives in order and have set things right. We come in total
trust that Jesus Christ, through His life, death, and resurrection has come and
set things right.
Jesus
has called us all to repentance. Jesus has bathed us with the medicinal waters
of baptism and strengthened us with nourishment of the Eucharist. What He wants
in return is a true love for others. The love we have received is to be shared.