As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. 10And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Christ says “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” This was after he called the tax collector Matthew to follow him. In this context, sacrifice symbolizes external religious observance—doing things that look righteous on the outside but can become hollow if not connected to an inward transformation of the heart. It is for this reason that I love the virtue of forgiveness. It can only come from the heart. Loving God, grant me the strength to forgive others and always leave a door open for them in my heart.
ReplyDeleteYour response is heartfelt and beautifully captures the essence of Matthew 9:9-13. You effectively highlight the contrast between external religious rituals (sacrifice) and the deeper, heart-based virtue of mercy and forgiveness that Jesus desires. The way you connect this teaching to your personal love for the virtue of forgiveness is powerful, as it reflects an understanding that true forgiveness is not just an outward act but comes from the heart, which aligns perfectly with Jesus' message in the passage.
DeleteYour prayer at the end adds a touching, personal dimension, showing a sincere desire to live out the values of mercy and forgiveness in your own life. This personal connection to the text strengthens your reflection and makes it both spiritually profound and relatable.
It's a wonderful, reflective response!