ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
March 22, 2023
How would you describe the experience of compassion? What are the repercussions of compassion? Jesus brought both words and actions to the people who were like sheep without a shepherd and who were dealing with all kinds of illness (Matthew 9). The church has always struggled to balance word and action. Sadly, there have been times when we’ve been all words and devoid of action. Other times, we have failed in our capacity to articulate what we really are claiming to believe. Those times when church has been most impactful have consistently seen words reinforced by actions and actions explained in words. Most of us can come up with a definition of compassion, but actions are powerful. Yet for the act of compassion to reach the height of its power, it needs to be packaged in a theological framework that clarifies God’s involvement and why the act of compassion happened in the first place. About this time last year, I helped the person in front of me at the grocery store when he did not have enough money to buy diapers and formula. He thanked me and then asked, “Why did you help?” I stumbled with my answer, even being a bit dismissive of the question. But how much more impactful is an act of compassion when the answer to WHY includes an affirmation of the person’s value as one of God’s beloved, especially if the person is feeling embarrassed or ashamed because of what has occurred.
Provide to me, O God, a heart full of compassion and the capacity to explain how you have continued to model compassion for all. Amen.
