Living Compassion

“What can we do? We can become a sign. Whatever happen, become a sign of joy and a fountain of divine love.” - Bede Griffiths, OSB

Compassionate people are inspiring. “I feel this way whenever I meditate on the life of Jesus. I marvel at how Jesus was so consistently compassionate when he met the ill, the grieving, the hungry, the oppressed. He is often described as being ‘deeply moved in spirit’ or feeling compassion for the people. Jesus touched torn and tattered people with an amazing awareness of their woundedness. The vastness of his ability to love and be loved is phenomenal.”

People of compassion throughout history often boggle our minds Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Albert Schweitzer, Dorothy Day.... Still one thing that is often common about the lives of people of compassion is they have had a hard journey themselves. It is often painful life events that have brought them to the place of understanding another’s pain. It gives them a generous heart, a non-blaming and non-juding mind, a passionate spirit, a willingness to sacrifice their life, a keen empathy, and a love that is overwhelming.

Breathprayer:

Breathe in: Divine Compassion....

Breathe out:....teach me

Reflection:

Think about compassionate people you have known

Look into your cup and imagine compassion filling you

Think about how compassion changes your life and the life of others.

Lift your cup up to be filled with compassion

Hold it to your heart and pray for it to heal you in a way that you might be more compassionate yourself.

Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

...and whoever gives even a cup of water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward (Mt. 10:42)

Journal:

My experience of compassion...

God of compassion....

Prayer:

God of compassion, thank you for the people of love you have brought into my life, who give me comfort and strength in weary times. Thank you for my teachers of compassion, help me to learn from them. Revive compassion and love in my life.