Matthew 9:11-13
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

ok.... I have tried to go and learn what Jesus meant... and I realize that one aspect of sin is to withold compassion or kindly forebearance.

The lesson connects to Matthew 5:23-24 where we are taught that we are to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters BEFORE we present our offering to God.

There is a clear difference between the act of sacrificing (offering) and merciful behavior. When we offer a sacrifice, we maintain a distance ... even a hands off approach. The object that is sacrificed (in ancient times, a living creature that would hopefully placate a deity) is the middle man in the transaction. True, mercy is a sacrifice -- you have to "kill" your desire to judge the other (to be right ... while they are wrong). But when we are truly merciful, "hands off" ends.... you are drawn into the relationship. You can't be compassionate or kindly forebearing without being connected (at least for a while). That point of connection has the potential to transform...to renew... and that renewed relationship is a manifestation of God's grace.

Although "easy" relationships need to be nurtured, the relationships that are most in need of our attention are the ones that are a bit "itchy"...the ones that aren't going so smoothly. Sometimes it isn't what we have done that offends. Sometimes it is what we have failed to do. In other words, how have we literally dismissed or discounted somebody whom we would just as soon erace from our radar screen? Are there broken (even terminated) relationships that come to mind as you present yourself to God?

Yep, that's the place where, we are told, God wants us to extend mercy ... and we can't do that without re-entering the relationship in some way.

Jesus taught that mercy is pleasing to the Lord because it exhibits understanding of how we are to be with each other in response to God's loving mercy which is freely given to us.

Business transactions (I offer you this sacrifice so that this or that hope I hold in my heart will be met) apparently have no place in kingdom economics. I never thought of "sacrifice" as the "easier" way.... but apparently it is.

Mercy requires humility, surrender. Offering a sacrifice just requires finding a valuable middle man!