Scripture: Matthew 9:32-38
Journal: What is your first response when you see people that are harassed and
helpless? What would it look like to
have compassion on them? Who are the harassed
and helpless ones in your life that God is calling you to show
compassion to this day?
Reflection:
The gospel of Matthew tells us that when
Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed
and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.
The word Matthew uses here is splagchnizomai, which means to be
moved from the deepest parts of your being.
That is what goes on in the heart of Jesus when he sees people in need,
he is moved so deeply that he simply must do something to alleviate
their suffering. That, I think, is the
difference between pity and compassion.
Pity is just a feeling, whereas compassion is a feeling that spurs us to
action. And that is what Jesus asks of
us, not to stop at a mere feeling, but to be moved all the way to action. (The
Blue Book by Jim Branch)
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me your heart of compassion
for all those that I come across today.
Amen.
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