Compassion: Autumn 2

Our Compassion Prayer

God, thank you for the way you show compassion to other people.

Thank you for the way you help us when we’re in trouble.

Please help us to put ourselves in other people’s shoes today and feel what it’s like to be them.
Amen

When someone is in trouble we have a choice.

Do we react with compassion or with selfishness?

Mark 1: 40-42 The healing of the man with leprosy

40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.

Jesus never turned his back on anyone who needed him. He would even help people with really big problems, even when it might be their fault they were in a mess. Even when it was none of his business. If people asked him for help, he always gave it to them. And the feeling that made him do this was something called compassion. Compassion was the way he could put himself in their shoes and imagine what it was like to be them. Compassion made him imagine how he would like to be treated if he was in their place.

Proverbs 11.17 Be Kind!

"Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves."

The Lion and the Mouse - An Aesop's Fable

Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him.

"Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?"

The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go.

Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on.

Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts.

"Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.

The moral of this fable: "Little friends may prove great friends"

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Active Compassion

To be compassionate we start with what we have to give where we are – we can start by giving people our time and attention. Compassion isn’t about some outlandish or overly generous thing that we do – but it starts just by turning up; by being "there".

Mark 6:34
When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.