What I want is Mercy not sacrifice

Ex. 11:10-12:14, Mt. 12:1-8. In today's first reading, we recall three unique Jewish festivals: the Passover, the Unleavened Bread and the Offering of the Firstborn. The Passover was a feast to keep alive the memory of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The Passover celebrates life, saved from oppression and as the Lord’s gift of the fertile earth. Also, in this celebration, blood had an important role; it was placed on the forehead and splashed on the doorposts of their homes. This blood symbolised the bond of life uniting the people with each other and with their God. In the same way, the Law of God is to establish the bond of life with the people of God. Jesus establishes this fact in today's Gospel when the teachers of the Law interpreted the Law so strictly to impose a total ban for work on the Sabbath day.

The teachers of the Law and Pharisees became superficial in their observance of the Law as they focus on external observance of the laws and customs, but failed to realise the intention of the Law. The Law was never meant to oppress but to guide us in our journey towards God, so that we would not end up losing our way through that journey. It was God’s love for us that made Him give the Law as a means to guide us and to keep us disciplined in faith, so that we may be closer to God. Using the example of king David, who ate his followers of the bread of offerings which were reserved only for the consumption of the priests, when they were desperate and hungry without food. In their fanatic regard for the law and for human traditions, let mirror the mercy and loving kindness of God the Father.

May the Lord, who said ‘Let any man who thirsts come to me and drink’, give us His Spirit and help those in pain to know that the Father cares for them! Amen!! Good morning and have a wonderful day!!!