God Looks at the Heart

January 20, 2026 – Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012026.cfm)

Jesus often made people uncomfortable, especially those who thought they were already right with God. In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees watched Him closely, not to learn, but to find fault. They complained because His disciples picked grain on the Sabbath. For them, the law mattered more than hunger, more than people, more than life itself.

The Sabbath, which was meant to be a gift, had become a burden. Something meant to give rest had turned into a tool for control. A hungry person could not eat. A suffering person could not be helped. All because the “rule” had become more important than mercy. Jesus saw this clearly and said it plainly, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.” God’s law is meant to give life, not to choke it.

This same problem is already present in the First Reading from the First Book of Samuel. Samuel was sent to choose a new king among the sons of Jesse. Naturally, Samuel was impressed by the tall, strong, and confident sons. They looked like kings. But God stopped him and said something very important, “Not as man sees does God see; man looks at appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.” In the end, God chose David, the youngest, the least noticed, and the one left tending the sheep.

This brings into the realization that when we focus only on appearances, rules, and status, we miss the heart of God.

The Pharisees saw a violation of the law but missed hungry men. Samuel saw strong bodies but almost missed a faithful heart. In ordinary life, we could fall into the same trap. We judge quickly. We complain easily. We focus on what is “wrong” rather than what is needed. We protect rules, routines, and even our religious practices, but sometimes forget compassion.

You know, Jesus is not against the Sabbath. God is not against leadership or structure. What both reject is a faith that forgets people. If our religious practice makes us hard, judgmental, and bitter, then something is wrong. If our sacrifices prevent kindness, then they are no longer pleasing to God.

God chose David not because he was perfect, but because his heart was open. Jesus defended His disciples not because rules do not matter, but because mercy matters more. God’s question is never, “Did you follow every rule?” but rather, “Have you given life?”

This challenges us to look honestly at ourselves. We may ask, “What do we see first, rules or people? Faults or needs? Appearances or hearts? It also challenges us to ask, “What kind of God do I really worship? A God of love and mercy, or a god made of rules, pride, and status?”

Jesus invites us back to the center. Faith is not about winning arguments or pointing out mistakes. Faith is about choosing what gives life. Like David, we may feel small or unnoticed, but God sees our heart. Like the disciples, we may be judged by others, but Jesus stands with those who choose life. Hinaut pa.