Not Sacrifice

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031415.cfm) reminds me that sacrifice alone does not please God.

They say that actions speak louder than words. Sometimes, it is true. But mere actions are not indicative of the true state of heart. We see a lot of evil people do good for publicity. Of course, the action is good if it helps others, but the intention is not.

God sees the intentions of the heart.

In the readings, we see that God does not desire sacrifice alone. In the first reading, he says that it is love he desires, not sacrifice. In the psalm, he says that it is mercy he desires not sacrifice. Jesus further illustrates this in the gospel, when he said that actions, or sacrifice alone do not please God – especially if it shows self-righteousness on the person. The Pharisee saw himself as better than others – because he fasts and gives tithes. His prayer was not really a prayer, but a self praising activity. On the other hand, the tax collector knows he is a sinner and asked God to forgive him. And Jesus said that the tax collector went home justified, not the Pharisee.

God is not impressed by our actions. He looks at our heart.

Sometimes we get too focused on actions. We need to do this and that for God. We need to serve him through others. We need to share what we have. We need to give our time. This lent, we may get too focused on our abstinence or sacrifices for Him. Today, we are reminded by God not to be too focused on the actions, that we should remember the intentions as well. Our reasons for doing these things should be clear, and we should not forget those reasons.

May we remember that to God, mere actions and sacrifices are not as important as the reason for doing them. Let us make sure our hearts are on the right place as we do these things.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. And thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I focus on actions and sacrifices, that I forget why I am doing those things. Help me to always focus on you. Help me to live for you. Help me to do those things and actions for you. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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March 14, 2015

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

Lectionary: 242

Reading 1 Hos 6:1-6

“Come, let us return to the LORD,

it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;

he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.

He will revive us after two days;

on the third day he will raise us up,

to live in his presence.

Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;

as certain as the dawn is his coming,

and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!

He will come to us like the rain,

like spring rain that waters the earth.”

What can I do with you, Ephraim?

What can I do with you, Judah?

Your piety is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that early passes away.

For this reason I smote them through the prophets,

I slew them by the words of my mouth;

For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,

and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab

R. (see Hosea 6:6) It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;

in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

and of my sin cleanse me.

R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;

should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;

a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindness

by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;

Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,

burnt offerings and holocausts.

R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

Verse Before the Gospel Ps 95:8

If today you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

Gospel Lk 18:9-14

Jesus addressed this parable

to those who were convinced of their own righteousness

and despised everyone else.

“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;

one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,

‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —

greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week,

and I pay tithes on my whole income.’

But the tax collector stood off at a distance

and would not even raise his eyes to heaven

but beat his breast and prayed,

‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;

for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”