Are we moving away from "Mercy"?

In Matthew 9:13 Jesus says: “Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”

The English Standard Version commentary puts it like this: “JESUS REVEALS HIS UNEXPECTED DEFINATIONS OF DISCIPLESHIP” His point is, that only those who realize their need come to Him – to receive the help they need.

I think it takes a lifetime to “go and learn that Jesus Christ desire mercy, not sacrifice. “Mercy” means steadfast love.

It sounds so simple, that this is what Jesus desire from his disciples – steadfast love, not sacrifices. Nevertheless we “Christian disciples” start our journey with Jesus, loving Him so much, being thankful for His salvation, for His healing of our souls, but after a while “we move on” to sacrifices (religious rituals and rules)

The problem with that is, that when we “move on” (sometimes we even call it mature) from mercy to sacrifice, we become more interested in religious rules than steadfast love to Jesus and the people around us.

To “go and learn” seems to take a life time, and sometimes hardship in our own lives. Again and again we must come back to the simple “steadfast love” which Jesus says he desire - the thankfulness – the amazement over his love, grace and attention to the underappreciated – the childlike attitude “Oh Jesus, how I enjoy your care for me, I do not deserve that - I appreciate you so much”

The wonderful truth about coming back to mercy, steadfast love, is that it lead us to care for “sinners and tax collectors” like Jesus did, where “moving on” leads us to a “them and us attitude” where we isolate ourselves from the real needs of the world – and thereby also isolate ourselves from Jesus, who still are eating (socializing, fellowshipping) with tax collectors and sinners…