+ "I say to you something greater than the temple is here!" "If you truly allowed yourself to understand what is going on here you would know what this saying of scripture means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice." And if we, here, today, plumb the depths of God's mercy – if we completely immerse ourselves in his Merciful Heart then we would not condemn anyone for anything – least of all the apparent breaking of man-made rules of the Sabbath. Yes, God instructed us to keep holy the Sabbath, and gave specific instructions on how to do that: but doing the merciful thing on the Sabbath always takes precedence over anything else.
It is the "cup of mercy" that we take up during this and every Mass; the cup of consecrated wine – which is his blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins – which was prefigured by the saving blood spread over the doorposts of the Israelites on the great night of remembrance: the Passover!
Immersing ourselves and our loved ones; immersing ourselves and those we don't even know; immersing ourselves and those we don't even like; immersing ourselves and those might even hate or consider enemies: can do an enormous amount to bring about the true reconciliation and peace which is what the Precious Blood of Jesus flowing from His Pierced Heart is all about!
On this Friday – as we recall the events of the Lord's Passion and Death: let us take up the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord!
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