Jesus’ way of behaving was so new with respect to the mainstream mentality that it often scandalized respectable people. Like the time he told Matthew to follow him and then had lunch with him. Matthew was a tax collector, and consequently, not very popular with the people; on the contrary, he was considered to be a public sinner, an enemy at the service of the Roman Empire.
Why, ask the Pharisees, does Jesus eat with a sinner? Wouldn’t it be better for him to stay away from certain people? This question offered Jesus the opportunity to explain that he specifically wants to encounter sinners, just as a physician goes out to the sick. And he concludes by telling the Pharisees to go and study the meaning of the words of God written in the Hebrew Testament by the Prophet Hosea: “For it is mercy that I desire, not sacrifice” (See Hosea 6:5).
Why does God want us to be merciful? Because he wants us to be like him. We must be similar to him just as children are similar to their father and mother. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus speaks to us of the Father’s love for the good and for the evil, for the just and for sinners: for each one, without discrimination and without excluding anyone. If he has preferences it is for those who would not seem to deserve to be loved, as in the parable of the prodigal son.
“Be merciful,” explains Jesus, “just as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36): this is perfection (See Mt 5:48).

«Go and learn the meaning of the words, ’I desire mercy, not sacrifice’»

Jesus extends the same invitation to each one of us today: “Go and learn…” But where should we go? Who can teach us what it means to be merciful? One person alone, Jesus, who went in search of the lost sheep, who forgave those who betrayed and crucified him, who gave his life for our salvation. In order to learn how to be merciful like the Father, perfect like him, we need to look at Jesus, who fully reveals the Father’s love. He said: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9).

«Go and learn the meaning of the words, ’I desire mercy, not sacrifice’»

Why mercy and not sacrifice? Because love is the absolute value which gives meaning to all the rest, even to worship, even to sacrifice. In fact, the sacrifice most pleasing to God is concrete love towards our neighbor, which finds its highest expression in mercy.
Mercy always helps us to see people in a new way, the people with whom we live every day at home, at school, at work, without looking back at their faults and mistakes. It enables us not to judge, but to forgive the wrongs we have received. Indeed, to forget them.
Our sacrifice will not consist so much in long vigils and fasting, or in sleeping on the floor, but rather in opening our heart to all those we meet, good and bad alike.
This was done by a man who worked in the admission and accounting department of a hospital. His village had been burned to the ground by his “enemies”. One day he saw a man arriving with a sick relative. He immediately recognized from their accent that they were those “enemies”; in fact, the sick man was frightened and didn’t want to reveal his identity for fear that he would be sent away.
The hospital employee didn’t ask for any documents; he helped him even though he had to overcome the hatred he had been harboring within himself. In the following days, he was able to assist the patient on various occasions. On the last day of his stay in the hospital, when the “enemy” came to pay his bill, he said to the employee: “I must confess something that you don’t know”. And he replied: “I knew who you were from the very first day.” “Why did you help me if you knew that I was your ‘enemy’?”
For us too then, as for him, mercy is born from love which sacrifices itself for others following the example of Jesus who reached the point even of giving up his life for everyone.

Chiara Lubich