untitled1

Today we are going to take a look at the word Compassion. And as usual I turn to our faithful dictionary to find out what it means. Merriam-Webster tells us that compassion is: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Well please notice, compassion is an emotion: a feeling in motion. It is an active feeling. When a feeling is active, it can be used as a tool. As a tool, it can be used in a positive or negative manner.

We are going to ignore the negative aspect and focus only on that which is positive. We need to stretch our minds to hold on to a point of view that is very foreign to us. The thought that someone else’s suffering can have a value to us is not quite normal to most of the world‘s inhabitants. However it is the kind of thinking that we believe God does. I doubt that anyone thinks of God in any other terms but that he/she is compassionate, and that he/she is unconditionally loving. We hear those words and have to wonder what they really mean. Is it possible for us to reach those states of consciousness. How do we ever get to that level of unconditional love and compassion. That’s the 64 dollar question isn’t it?

First of all dear friends, we have to suspend all judgements of the actions of others. Obviously we must be aware of those actions, of how painful they are but all the while realizing that they have a value. The value that they possess is that they can help bring about our spiritual growth. Isn’t that great! If we can overlook the painful aspects of a situation and ascertain what we can do to improve on relationships then we can grow in that environment. Do you see the possibilities for growth that come our way every day. What do you plan to do about it? You must make the choice to either turn your back and ignore difficult circumstances that come your way or find a way around them.

The best example of real compassion that I know of is found in the Bible. It is in Luke’s Gospel chapter 10:25-37 (NIV) where Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. Take note of it now.

That’s about as plain as Compassion can be expressed don’t you think?

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[3] ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[4] "

28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[5] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."