Daily Inspiration

“Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath." He said to the them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." -Matthew 12:1-8
 
Christ commands, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Offering mercy is the greatest of sacrifices because it destroys self. To be merciful, we must slaughter our pride and self-worth and burn up our anger so the smoke rises to the Lord. 
 
When we look upon those who lash out against us, offering them mercy instead of judgment, we offer to the Lord of the Sabbath the sacrifice He desires.
 
Saint Macrina the Younger, pray for us.
 
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Jesus, I trust in you!