It’s often easy to dismiss the Pharisees and the way they are shown to interpret religious law in what seem to be efforts to catch out Jesus and the apostles. The rigid adherence to following the law made the Pharisees smug and self-righteous in their experience of religion. Today’s Gospel is an example of the Pharisees chastising Jesus and the hungry apostles for pulling some heads off grains of wheat for sustenance as they went through a field. That was work and work is forbidden on the Sabbath, a day of rest. I’m not sure if Jesus ever rolled his eyes – he was human, after all – and this seems a perfect opportunity to do it. Jesus tells the Pharisees that he desires mercy, not sacrifice.

I can feel pretty smug myself sometimes. Self-righteous even as I follow the letter of the law, saying my prayers, following the guidelines of my faith. But am I showing mercy? Do I close my prayer journal with a snap and then go on into my day, doing things that might not involve mercy? I roll my eyes at a slow clerk. I avoid my sister’s phone call even though I know she might need that human connection, but I don’t want to take the time. I don’t even acknowledge the humanity of the man at the intersection who is asking for some change.

Where is my mercy? My faith demands more of me that lip service to prayers and following rules. Love your neighbors means that while I am walking my dog, I can engage in conversation with the overly chatty elderly woman who lives down the street instead of beating a hasty retreat to the backyard because I don’t want to take that time. Being present to friends and family instead of only thinking of what’s left on my to-do list.

Mercy can be extending that time and attention to those around me. I may be busy or tired, but that mercy is no sacrifice. I pray for mercy and the willingness to extend mercy to those I encounter.