Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the third week of Lent, March 28, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Hosea 14: 2-10; Rs psalm 81: 6c-8a.8bc-9.10-11ab.14.17; Markus 12: 28b-34COMPASSION IS GREATER THAN ALL SACRIFICES ANDOFFERINGS The theme for our meditation today is: Compassion IsGreater than All Sacrifices and Offerings. This statement invites us to ponderdeeply the fundamental truths of our faith and our relationship with God. Thisteaching reminds us that religious rituals, prayers, and sacrifices are ouressential devotions, but they will be empty if they are not accompanied by truecompassion and love for others. In today's Gospel of Mark, the Lord Jesus teachesabout sincere love for God and neighbors. A scribe who accepted this teachingmade it clearer by saying: "To love God with all your heart, with all yourunderstanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbors asyourself is far more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."  Compassion or mercy is love in action. This ismanifested first of all through God's care for mankind. When we do charity, weimitate Christ, who always served the little, the forgotten, the sinners, andthe brokenhearted. A compassionate heart such as feeding the hungry, comfortingthe sad, forgiving those who have sinned against us, describes a heart that istruly in accordance with God's will. Why is mercy or compassion greater in quality thansacrifices and offerings? In the Old Testament, sacrifices were made to helpbelievers express repentance and devotion to the divine. Likewise, the varioustypes of offerings that were made to explain how believers devoted and worshiped. However, it turns out that all the sacrifices andofferings then become mere routine when they do not correlate with a heart thattruly longs for justice, peace, and love. Compassion, on the other hand, is anactive and transformative response that shows God's presence in the world. Whenwe are compassionate or loving we build relationships, heal wounds, andstrengthen fellowship. Some practical suggestions for practicing compassionsuch as forgiving others, helping those in need, speaking gently, patiently,and understandingly. Pope Francis affirmed that the Church of compassion is theChurch that becomes a "field hospital", that is, a place to heal allwounds and sufferings, before help in other forms comes later. In this seasonof Lent, acts of love will be very important as a path to our repentance.Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord, forgive ussinners  for not strong enough to docharity consistently. Glory to the Father ... In the name of the Father ...