Universal Utterings®
for September 21, 2024

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09-21-2024 Matthew 9 V-0913 Jesus Desires Mercy Over Sacrifice

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The Gospel of Matthew 9 v- Nine thru Thirteen

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 10 While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. 13 Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

In our Scripture study today, Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him, demonstrating His inclusive approach to ministry because people thought all tax collectors were considered corrupted who collaborated with the Romans and extorted taxes for financial gain. When Matthew hosts a banquet for Jesus, the presence of sinners and tax collectors at the table prompts criticism from the Pharisees. They question why Jesus associates with such individuals. In response, Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6, stating, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” emphasizing the importance of compassion over ritualistic observance.

This statement encapsulates a central theme of Jesus' teaching: the prioritization of mercy and love over mere adherence to religious laws and sacrifices. In the Jewish tradition, sacrifices were integral to worship and atonement. However, Jesus challenges the notion that external acts of piety can replace genuine compassion for others. He urges the Pharisees to “go and learn” the true meaning of God's desire for mercy, suggesting that their rigid interpretations of the law have led them to overlook its deeper purpose.

By highlighting mercy, Jesus invites His followers to embrace a relationship with God that reflects His loving and forgiving nature. This call to mercy is radical, as it seeks to break down barriers between the righteous and the sinners, showing that all are worthy of grace. It serves as a reminder that the essence of faith lies not in ritual compliance but in the heart's response to others.

In a broader context, Jesus’ message in this passage is a call to action for all believers. It challenges them to reflect on their own practices and attitudes, encouraging a shift from judgment to compassion, and urging them to embody the mercy that God extends to humanity. In doing so, followers of Christ are invited to participate in the transformative power of love and grace. “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice.’” Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

Practice. Pray. Proclaim. ®
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20

09-21-2024 Matthew 9 V-0913

**Jesus Desires Mercy Over Sacrifice**

In the bustling streets of Galilee,

A voice called out, "Come, follow Me."

Matthew, the tax collector, sat in his booth,

With echoes of scorn, yet yearning for truth.

Coins clinked in the silence, a life built on shame,

But in Jesus’ gaze, he felt something change.

No longer an outcast, no longer alone,

A new path unfolded, a heart turned to stone.

In the warmth of his home, the feast was laid bare,

With sinners and outcasts gathered in prayer.

The Pharisees whispered, their judgment was swift,

“Why dine with the wicked? What a terrible gift!”

But Jesus looked up, with compassion so bright,

“Those who are well need no doctor in sight.

I desire mercy, not sacrifice, true,

For the lost and the broken, my love will renew.”

“Go, learn this lesson, let hearts be your song,

In the depths of your rituals, you’ve wandered too long.

Embrace the forgotten, the weary, the weak,

For in love and in mercy, my Kingdom you seek.”

So let us remember, in each heart and each space,

The call to be vessels of mercy and grace.

For at the table of love, all are welcomed and free,

In the eyes of the Savior, we find eternal unity. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

September 21, 2024 @ 06:13 AM EST

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