Call to Be Compassionate
Welcome to the first Sunday of Lent. For the next four Sundays let’s discuss various “calls” to answer and follow. Today, we begin with the heartbeat of the Gospel: The Call to be Compassionate. In the world’s eyes, compassion is often a passive feeling. But, we see that biblical compassion is an active, sacrificial movement toward the suffering. It is not merely feeling for someone; it is “suffering with” them. This compassion must radiate outward in concentric circles, beginning with the heart and ending with the world. Compassion Toward the Self: Accepting the Divine Mercy Before we can extend mercy to others, we must first understand the compassion God has shown to us. In Deuteronomy 4:31, Moses reminds Israel: “For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” The foundation of our security is not our own goodness, but God’s covenant. If we are to be truly compassionate, we m...
