“I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” (Matthew 12:7)
In the above saying, Jesus is directly quoting the Prophet Hosea (6:6), who in turn is reflecting what is written in Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Thus, love for God is the number-one priority of mankind and how we creatures honor the Creator. Following the Law of God includes the aspects of offerings and sacrifices which serve as human expressions of love. Therefore, although we have ritualistic worship ordained by God for us and the Eucharistic liturgy, these ceremonies are not an end unto themselves, as they must be heartfelt and filled with commitment and faith.
Fr. John
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