This Week's Gospel Reading

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06/04/26

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“OFFER MERCY”

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“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

 

 

Book of Mattiyahu/Matthew 9:9-13 

 

In the days of Yehoshua’s ministry, just as is the case today, some in places of authority think themselves above the daily connections with common people. They run wide open operating from a place of ego rather than responsibility. We hold the truth the Pharisees were among such self-lofty. In their arrogance, they thought themselves too lofty to be in the presence of those considered sinners as doing so would contaminate their purity and piety.

 

Yehoshua understood the mission of His Father assigned distinctly. Yehoshua was to gather those who have lost their way from a place of faith and worship before HaShem. Being the “Good Shepherd” meant Yehoshua was to gather the sheep of HaShem and bring them into the fold; the flock of the faithful.  In our Father’s manner, Yehoshua called us to love one another as our selves, as our Creator has loved us. Divining this mission would require Yehoshua to embrace those from all walks of life, from every imagined difference in faith, tradition and counsel.

 

While the Pharisees were particular to follow all Mosaic Law as prescribed, their lofty arrogance blinded them to wholly embracing HaShem’s love which they did not extend beyond the Synon. They lacked a crucial component to both honoring and worshiping Elohim as He commands… to love they neighbor and those within they gates as themselves. Let us learn from this glaring example of rejection in knowing our call to is embrace our neighbor (literally and those within they gates; within thy borders, fellow citizens).

 

Our Father requires us to love as He has loved us, warts and all. We acknowledge we are all sinners; we all miss the mark every day. Love the sinner, hate the sin is far more than a mere catch phrase, it is His command. In this we settle in the understanding of “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” “Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of G-d more than burnt offerings.” – {Trei Asasar (12 Prophets)/Book of Hosea 6:6}