I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE (Matt 12:7)

⏰Friday of the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (20 July 2018)

📖Isa 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8; Isa 38:10, 11, 12abcd and 16 (R.v.17cd); Matt 12:1-8

My dear, I pray for you today, that God may bless your day with good fortunes and also make all your ventures a success. Amen.

All you need to make that materialize is to trust God, and God alone. Indeed, it is better to put trust in God than to trust in men.

Note the contrast between God and the Pharisees as we read today. In Isa 38:1-22, Hezekiah cried out to after receiving a message which he might have understood as a punishment from God. God heard his cry and relented from carrying out what he had earlier declared would come upon Hezekiah. But here are the Pharisees accusing the disciples of Jesus of disobeying the Sabbath because they plucked corn to satisfy their hunger (cf. Matt 12:1-8).

Can you see that God does not think as men do? He is a merciful Judge and Father who is always ready to reason with his subjects and wash them clean from their uncleanliness (cf. Isa 1:18). He is more caring and loving than the prodigal father (Luke 15:11-32) which is why he sent his only son to die for us while were still plunged in the dungeon of sin (Rom 5:8).

There is nothing good that this God of ours cannot do for us. We only need to ask and trust that we shall receive (Matt 7:7) just as Hezekiah asked and received. Only be sure to garnish your asking with faithfulness and righteousness, which are the real sacrifices God desire of us.

When we call on God, may he answer us in his faithful love. May he also make us willing and disposed to do his will in all things. Amen.

Have a merciful and miraculous day ahead. Peace be with you.