Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Compassion literally means to suffer with.
Pity may lead a person to compassion, but it was compassion, not pity, that led Mother Teresa to pick up that first homeless dying man up off the streets. Compassion led St. Vincent de Paul, and a host of other saints.
Compassion, on a small scale, leads me to always be there for funeral dinners, cassarole in hand, because I have suffered loss, and wish to ease the suffering of another, and in that small way, I can ease the way of my fellow through a most painful transition.
Compassion is the way of the good samaritan, who saw a man beaten and injured and went out of his way to help, even though he had nothing to gain.
Compassion looks and sees not a man in rags, but a person to share with.
Unfortunately, being humans, we often send compassion into the back room, and choose not to see as often as we can, but with the help of God, we can pray: Lord, help me to see you when you are thirsty and need drink, naked and need clothing, hungry and need food. Let us not see the undesirable who threatens us, but our brother who needs help, our sister who needs us, and beyond both are you. Let our hearts be softened for your glory, o God, and may you lead us in the paths of your righteousness forever. Amen.
Pity may lead a person to compassion, but it was compassion, not pity, that led Mother Teresa to pick up that first homeless dying man up off the streets. Compassion led St. Vincent de Paul, and a host of other saints.
Compassion, on a small scale, leads me to always be there for funeral dinners, cassarole in hand, because I have suffered loss, and wish to ease the suffering of another, and in that small way, I can ease the way of my fellow through a most painful transition.
Compassion is the way of the good samaritan, who saw a man beaten and injured and went out of his way to help, even though he had nothing to gain.
Compassion looks and sees not a man in rags, but a person to share with.
Unfortunately, being humans, we often send compassion into the back room, and choose not to see as often as we can, but with the help of God, we can pray: Lord, help me to see you when you are thirsty and need drink, naked and need clothing, hungry and need food. Let us not see the undesirable who threatens us, but our brother who needs help, our sister who needs us, and beyond both are you. Let our hearts be softened for your glory, o God, and may you lead us in the paths of your righteousness forever. Amen.
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