Friday 15 July

Isaiah 38: 1-6, 21-22,7-8; Canticle Isaiah 38:10-12,16; Matthew 12, 1-8

Mercy not sacrifice

Many times in the Gospels Jesus teaches his disciples that legalism is not God’s way. He shocked those who prided themselves on their faithful compliance with the law and yet had no understanding of God’s merciful heart. All of us need to be careful not to fall into the same trap, believing that compliance with the externals of our faith is enough. Are we merciful in our judgements of those who seem less worthy than we are?