A bit more compassion

29Apr
Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! 
the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.
 The Lord preserves them and keeps them alive,
so that they may be happy in the land; 
he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed 
and ministers to them in their illness.
-Psalm 41: 1-3


When reading through this week’s Psalms, I came across these words. Happy are they who consider the poor and needy. It reminded me of one of my favorite passages, from Matthew 25: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Jesus tells his disciples that true converts are marked by a particular compassion for the less fortunate, specifically the poor, marginalized, and incarcerated. It is a passage that has long stuck with me, as it carries a message I believe to be essential to the heart of Christianity.


Being a Christian does not have to be about converting everyone you know to God, or spending hours praying, or giving half your salary to the church. True Christianity-at least from my perspective- is about following the teachings of Jesus. Caring for the sick, helping the less fortunate, and above all, sowing compassion and grace wherever you go. I do not care that my friend is Jewish, or my classmate is Muslim, because I know both to be kind and caring people. It seems so silly to me that we have fought wars for centuries over which form of Christianity is the true form, when the differences sometimes come down to as little as whether or not to worship idols. In a world so filled with fear, injustice, and plain rotten luck, I think we could all do with incorporating a bit more compassion into our daily lives.


Musical Reflection  - lluminate the Shadows - The Porter's Gate


Comfort and liberate the lonely, the bereaved and the oppressed. Keep in safety those who travel and all who are in peril. Heal the sick in body, mind or spirit and

provide for the homeless, the hungry and the destitute. Guard and protect all children who are in danger. Shower your compassion on prisoners, hostages and refugees,

and all who are in trouble. Forgive our enemies, persecutors and slanderers, and turn their hearts. Hear us, O Christ. Amen.

-adapted from Enriching our Worship Prayers V

Compassion

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