Following in Compassion

Following another can be helpful. While hiking through the woods, how grateful I am to others who have gone ahead of me, whether I’m following as they walk ahead or following the path that was made.

I’ve chosen to follow Jesus on my path of life. Often I use the path of Jesus’ words written down for me; sometimes thoughts come into my mind that surprise me; still other times someone else’s words will not leave my mind, wisdom from Jesus. How grateful I am to learn from the great teacher how to live in this world, but sometimes it’s hard!

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Sounds simple enough.

As Marcus J. Borg says in his book Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, “‘Be compassionate as God is compassionate is the defining mark of the follower of Jesus.’ Compassion is the fruit of life in the Spirit and the ethos of the community of Jesus.”

If we continually strive to follow Jesus more and more closely, we will be transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus. As we do this, we may find being compassionate can be quite painful.

When we are compassionate, we care about that homeless person who sits at the corner where we pass.

When we are compassionate, we care about the families separated at the border.

When we are compassionate, we care about our neighbor suffering from cancer.

When we are compassionate, we care about children who have no opportunity for an education.

When we are compassionate, we care about the families caught up in political unrest who are unable to keep their homes or earn living wage.

When we are compassionate, we care about the single mother living nearby trying to juggle work, house upkeep, medical appointments, child care, and the occasional self care.

When we are compassionate, we care about those who are unjustly accused.

When we are compassionate, we care about the lonely who have lost the love of their life or have never had the blessings of true love.

When we are compassionate, we care about our neighbor concerned that the electricity will soon be shut off and an eviction notice will follow.

When we are compassionate, we care about the families of those killed by US drones.

When we are compassionate, we care about members of the LGBTQ who has been rejected by their family, employer, church, friends, community, or country.

When we are compassionate, we care about those caught in the crossfires of national conflicts who must flee for their lives.

When we are compassionate, we care about those who face discrimination because of the their religion, nationality, culture, gender, sexual orientation, or color of their skin.

When we are compassionate, we care about the prisoners who have lost independence, dignity, and self-worth.

Compassion is painful.

Yet, when we follow Jesus into the hard places in the lives of others, we receive hope. We find that as we help others in their time of need, the new hope we give them also provides us with hope. We recognize that we can make a difference in this hurting world.

Indeed, what a different world it would be if we all followed Jesus in compassion.