“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7). Early in Jesus’ ministry, He went up a mountain and authoritatively proclaimed the Beatitudes to His disciples. To live as a disciple is to receive God’s mercy and emulate Jesus by growing in mercy. Mercy is an expression of who God in Christ is and it springs from His heart, His very nature of boundless love. In His ministry on earth, Jesus consistently expressed mercy to the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the marginalized, and all who humbly turn to Him.
In this Sunday’s gospel, (Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26) Jesus sees Matthew, a tax collector at the tax booth, engaged in a vocation that would have made him a ritually impure “outsider.” He does not wait for Matthew to leave the tax booth but accepts him where he is. In His mercy, Jesus discerns Matthew’s openness to forgiveness and spiritual growth and invites him to “follow me.” Matthew accepts the invitation into the new, unknown life by faith.
Subsequently, Jesus shares a meal with Matthew and a group of “tax collectors and sinners.” The Pharisees questioned Jesus’ disciples, “why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Overly concerned for ritual purity, the Pharisees could not understand why Jesus was sharing table fellowship with tax collectors, impure collaborators with Rome’s oppressive rule. Jesus’ response is that of a healer. It is precisely such “impure” people who need the Great Physician. Jesus has faith that by His ministry of love and mercy, “the sinner’s” heart would be moved to listen and respond to Him.
Jesus, therefore, responds to the Pharisees by quoting Hosea 6:6, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus is explaining that outward sacrificial worship does not engage the heart and soul. Sacrificial worship is subordinate to love, mercy, and compassion. God desires to win the hearts of His people so loving worship will emanate from the soul. And God sent Jesus to offer merciful forgiveness to heal and transform hearts. In the second half of Sunday’s gospel, Jesus further demonstrates His heart of bountiful mercy. Willingly, He heals a woman suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years and restores to life the daughter of a synagogue leader.
How then may we apply Jesus’ call and His life of mercy to our life? Jesus’ call, “follow me” is extended to all of us, even when we feel unworthy. Jesus calls us as we are and invites us to trust Him enough to leave our old lives behind. “Follow me” is an invitation to risk a lifelong journey into the unknown with Jesus, by faith, like Abraham who journeyed by faith from his known country into the unknown in response to God’s call. We consent to journey with Christ and receive His love and mercy so we may emulate Christ’s life, extending love and mercy to others, even when it means the sacrifice of self for the good of others. Amen.
