God doesn’t want only praise with the lips, but with the heart

“I want Mercy, not sacrifice” is quoted in today’s Gospel.

Look at the Old Testament, for centuries there was lived, a great drama: God had to prepare his people for the coming of Jesus, but as he made covenants, there came a time when the Old Testament was no longer able to move forward, because there was a big crisis, which was noted by the prophets. God made all the law, a series of laws that the people were looking for, but the problem was that these people obey the law, but the heart wasn’t there. The people praised  God with the lips, but they were far from God.

God wants the worship the heart, God wants to love

God proclaims through the Prophet Hosea, He doesn’t want sacrifice, but the worship from the heart, what comes out from within. God wants love. The people took the sacrifices to the temple, but God wanted a contrite heart, repentant. Until, finally, one of the prophets, Ezekiel, makes a prophecy and told how God would solve the problem: “I will give you a new heart.” Humanly, it is impossible, unless you do a heart transplant! Jesus, then, gives us a new commandment: “love one another as I have loved you.” What he wants is to be the heart that loves within us.

To be Saints we need to kill the old man within us

This is the way of Holiness. Being holy is not a morality. But what is our mission for us to be Saints? We have to let the old man die within us so that Christ may resurrect. It is the mystery of Easter!

Steps to sainthood

We need to understand the following: when we are in a State of grace, which is sincere repentance and confession, the challenge is the next day, that is, keep this grace. But how is Christ going to take his place inside of us? How will this heart transplant happen? The first thing we need to know, according to St Paul, is: “the Gospel is the power of God”.

The just live by faith

We all need more faith, because it needs to grow in us. If we ask, God will give us the faith, but we need to insist on this request. If we’re in a State of grace, we need only contact  Jesus and He will be the strength to live with love.

In our spiritual life, we need to confess and receive communion, communion and confession. If we do this often, this practice will be God’s power to transform our hearts.

By faith we will have knowledge of the love of God for us

The Gospel is God’s force for those who believe. And how do we know God loves us? Only by faith.

Why do we have difficulties showing love? Because you can only receive love if you have faith; and I’m talking about human faith right now. For example: my mother loves me, but love is invisible, I don’t see it; What I see are acts. Through these actions, I see love. My brother, if you do not believe in other people, you’re going to die without love, because it is impossible to receive love without an act of faith. Either you believe or you receive love.

This is a human truth, and if it’s a human truth, it is also a divine truth, because you receive the love of God, you have to have faith, have to look for the light of Christ and see the love.

Give a different answer to the love of God for you

We’re going to approach the altar of God, today, in a different way. Let’s look at the blood of Christ and say: “I believe in that love”. Jesus is present in Blood, and is shed for you. What are you going to answer him?

My brothers, I repeat: “I want Mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus help us to offer this worship of God. Amen.

Portuguese Transcription and adaptation: Priscilla Santos