Matthew 12:1-14

“How much more precious a person is than a sheep! Therefore it is allowable to do good on the sabbath.”  Matthew 12:12

That seems pretty common sense, doesn’t it?  I think most of us, in our hearts, know this to be true, but do we live it?  Every day?

As I sat down to read this scripture, I asked that my reading be guided and that wisdom be shared with me.  As I read, I would close my eyes and ask what this means, is this what I should write on today?

I read the whole chapter, pausing off and on, listening.  But this verse (others too for another day.) kept coming back to mind.  Like I said it seems pretty common sense right?  But lately… I’m not so sure.

I look around me on social media, in the news, on the street on my walks, in the grocery store.  All around us, there are these pockets of ugliness.  I say pockets because I do believe there is more good out in the world than not, it’s just that good seems much quieter, so it’s harder to find.

I think about how groups of people are being dehumanized, treated no better than cattle and in some cases, worse.  

I think about how some of our pets have more rights and protections than certain groups of people in our country (the US).  

I think of how the poor are treated, how the ill are treated and I see that perhaps it’s not so much common sense after all. 

Shouldn’t we care more or even just as much about our fellow humans as we do our pets? Should that even be something we have to think about?   

And then, if we see this injustice, shouldn’t we do something about it?  Should we turn a blind eye and just say, “Well, I’m not doing it.”  I mean, if we see it or watch it on TV, the news, social media, where ever, shouldn’t we then be disgusted and do something about it? 

“How much more precious a person is than a sheep.”  

In verse 7 Jesus reminds us of what he said earlier in chapter 9:13, “I desire compassion and not sacrifice.”  

Jesus calls us to compassion, for all people, for all beings, for all things.

May we live lives full of compassion.  May our hearts overflow with compassion so much so, that the world becomes the realm of heaven we all imagine.

Until next time…♥️