"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."

“We must love God’s mercy as much as His justice, as both are attributes of the same infinite God”

Gospel Text: (LK 14:1-6)
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,
and the people there were observing him carefully.
In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.
Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,
“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?”
But they kept silent; so he took the man and,
after he had healed him, dismissed him.
Then he said to them
“Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,
would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?”
But they were unable to answer his question.

I love this story and the way that Jesus, once again, renders the Pharisees speechless. It is awesome the way He always has a quick "Win-Win" response to a "Lose-Lose" encounter with the Scribes and Pharisees!

The "Sabbath " was meant to be a time to remember and celebrate God's goodness and the goodness of his works, both in creation and redemption. It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment. It was not, however, intended to put a stop to love of God and love of neighbor.

We are never exempt from loving and helping our neighbors. Sometimes it's easy to come up with lots of reasons why we can't help out and sometimes it may be hard to love someone who has done wrong to us. But Jesus didn't tell us, "help others unless you're too busy" or "only help the people who have been kind to you". We are called to always make a positive difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters.

We honor the Sabbath by doing what Jesus asked us to do...BY LOVING GOD AND BY LOVING GOD'S PEOPLE...in all our thoughts, in all our words and especially in all of our actions.