Mercy Is Greater Than Rules

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Have you ever noticed that sometimes we can become so focused on doing things right that we forget why we are doing them? In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples are hungry, so they pick some heads of grain to eat as they walk through the fields. The Pharisees immediately point out that they are breaking the Sabbath law. They are looking at the action, but Jesus is looking at the heart. This Gospel reminds us that God gave His commandments not to make life harder, but to lead us closer to Him. Rules are important, but they should always serve love and never replace it.

Jesus then reminds the Pharisees of two stories from the Old Testament. David and his companions ate the bread that was reserved for the priests because they were hungry. The priests themselves work in the Temple on the Sabbath, yet they are innocent because they are serving God. Jesus is teaching something deeper: the law was never meant to ignore human need. God is not pleased when people use religion to judge others while ignoring mercy. This does not mean the commandments no longer matter. Rather, it means that every commandment finds its true meaning in love of God and love of neighbor.

Then Jesus says something that should make us stop and think: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” God certainly wants our prayers, our Mass attendance, our fasting, and our devotions. But if these practices do not make us more patient, more forgiving, and more compassionate, then we have missed their purpose. It is possible to be religious on the outside but have a heart that is still cold. Jesus never separates holiness from mercy. The closer we come to God, the more we should reflect His kindness to others.

This Gospel also invites us to look at ourselves. Sometimes we act like the Pharisees without realizing it. We are quick to notice someone else’s mistakes but slow to see our own. We know the rules, but we forget the person standing in front of us. Think about how Jesus treated people. He corrected sinners, but He first loved them. He challenged them, but He also welcomed them. Truth and mercy always walked together. As Christians, we are called to do the same.

Finally, Jesus declares, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” This means that Jesus is greater than every law because He is the One who gave the law. He invites us not into a religion of fear, but into a relationship of love. When we truly know Christ, we obey Him not because we are afraid of punishment, but because we love the One who first loved us. The Christian life is not about checking boxes; it is about becoming more like Jesus. And the more we become like Him, the more mercy will shape every part of our lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Teach me to love Your commandments, but even more, teach me to love as You love. Remove from my heart every attitude of pride, judgment, and hypocrisy. Fill me with mercy so that my words and actions reflect Your compassion. Help me to remember that true holiness is not only about following rules but about becoming more like You each day. Amen.

– Homily by Rev Fr Patrick Agbeko