Reflection for July 17 Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 12:1-8

Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” 

He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 

Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

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Reflection:

Are we quick to judge?

When Pope Francis was asked about homosexual persons, he said, “Who am I to judge them if they are seeking the Lord in good faith? They should not be marginalized.” 

These words touched many hearts around the world because they reminded us of something essential in our faith: every person is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and love. His message challenged us to look beyond labels and see the person whom God loves.

In today’s Gospel, when the disciples ate on the Sabbath, the Pharisees questioned Jesus, saying, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:2). 

But Jesus defended His disciples by reminding them of God’s deeper purpose behind the law: “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of the offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? 

Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent?” (Matthew 12:3–5).

Like the Pharisees, we can sometimes be quick to judge based only on what we see. We may form opinions about others without knowing their struggles, their wounds, their hopes, or their sincere desire to seek God. 

What we see is often only a small part of another person’s story. But Jesus sees beyond outward appearances; He sees the heart. He looks at our intentions, our sincerity, and our willingness to follow Him.

Jesus does not call us to ignore truth, but He reminds us that truth must always be lived with mercy and love. A heart that follows Christ is not a heart that condemns others but a heart that seeks to understand, forgive, and restore. Mercy was never a sign of weakness; rather, it is a reflection of God’s own heart.

How can we truly share the goodness and love of Jesus if our words and actions make others feel rejected or unworthy? The Pharisees were deeply concerned about following religious laws, yet they failed to recognize the greater commandment of love and compassion. They focused on outward observance while neglecting the mercy that God desires.

May we ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts and remove the pride that causes us to judge others too quickly. May we learn to see people not only through our own eyes but through the loving eyes of Jesus. Let us remember that we, too, are people in need of God’s mercy and understanding.

Before we judge another person’s journey, can we pause and ask ourselves: Are we reflecting the heart of Jesus—who welcomes, heals, and restores—or are we becoming like the Pharisees who saw only faults and failed to see the person loved by God?—Marino J. Dasmarinas