Are We Moved With Compassion ?

Are We Moved with Compassion?

Many years ago, during my first visit to Mumbai, when we reached the train station, we saw a sea of people – crowds.  Our hosts escorted us to board the local train to our final destination.  When the train arrived on the station, within seconds we found ourselves inside the coach.  Crowds of people were jostling each other for space inside the coach.  After what seemed a long time, our hosts instructed us to face the coach exit and soon when the train stopped, we were out of the train on the platform.  The crowds simply pushed us in and then out. 

As a young man at that time, the Mumbai crowd was an adventure. Not anymore. Now, when I see the crowd, my first reaction is to think “something is wrong here and I need to avoid the crowd”.  When a politician sees the crowd in a rally, he is thinking of more votes for himself.  When a sportsperson sees a crowd of spectators, they are motivated.  When a Bollywood star sees a crowd outside the cinema, they are thinking of profits for their movie. When a policeman sees a crowd on the road – he is worried about law and order. 

When Jesus saw a large crowd, Matthew tells us, he was moved with compassion. (Matthew 14:13-21) The original Greek word for ‘compassion’ (pity, mercy, kind, tender hearted) translated into English suggests deep inner turmoil, literally meaning that his bowels were in pain. Normally, when we use the word compassion – we seldom feel such an emotion anywhere in our body.  As we watch the television news and are bombarded by social media of tragic events around the world, we have become immune to yet another disaster.  Psychologists now call this as ‘compassion fatigue’.  Therefore when we see a beggar or an accident or the crowds, we do not feel any emotion.

Jesus was moved with compassion when he saw the people harassed, distressed, helpless and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Moved with compassion, he preached and taught, fed the hungry, healed the blind, lepers, raised the dead and casted out demons.  Paul exhorts us to put on a heart of compassion. (Colossians 3:12) It is not easy to be compassionate to the other. There are no pre-conditions to show compassion.  Compassion is shown to the un-deserving not necessarily for those who think they have a right to receive compassion.

Mother Teresa once said “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.  We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in……… God has identified himself with the hungry, the sick, the naked, the homeless; hunger not only for bread, but for love, for care, to be somebody to someone; nakedness, not for clothing only, but nakedness of that compassion that very few people give to the unknown; homelessness, not only just for a shelter made from stone but for that homelessness that comes from having no one to call your own. (Mother Teresa (2001) ‘Mother Teresa: Essential Writings’)

Let us pray that we will experience that deep emotion of compassion as we hear, see and read news from around the world rather than judge others.  In the midst of growing hostility to our faith in Christ, we should be moved with compassion to serve others. Let us transform our communities by showing the compassion of Jesus.  John Amalraj K

Published in Light of Life, Mumbai, October 2018, Vol 61.10

Are You Laboring for Nothing?

Are You Laboring for Nothing?

It was the last day of the month – the day the monthly wages are to be paid.  The Labour Officer was given the unpleasant task of announcing to the waiting workers that their wages will be delayed because of a cash flow shortage in the factory. After working hard, any worker will expect to be rewarded with his rightful wages. The disappointment soon engulfed them as they turned emotional; some expressing their anger against the management’s failure and others crying hopelessly not knowing how they will explain the situation to their family.

Prophet Isaiah almost gave up his ministry, since he was discouraged.  He said “I have laboured for nothing” – preaching and teaching Israel for many years did not yield the result of repentance.  God intervened to reward Him by affirming His calling and expanding his commission to even preach beyond Israel as a light to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 49: 1-6)

Apostle Paul writing to the church at Philippi expressed his hope that they will shine like stars in a warped and crooked generation as the children of God, blameless, pure and without fault. His ministry to the Philippians was like an outpouring of a drink offering on the sacrifice.  Paul’s reward was to boast in the presence of God that he did not labour for nothing. (Philippians 2:14-18)

Reward is often the motivation for our hard work.  But money is not the only reward that meets our need. Rewards like appreciation, gratitude, affirmation and encouragement helps a hard worker to receive self-dignity, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-fulfilment. These rewards come from God himself not human beings. Both Isaiah and Paul looked to God for their rewards.

Parents nourish their children that they may grow into a mature adult.  Teachers teach students that they will excel in their academics.  Their reward is not just money but a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.  The preacher says it is good to find satisfaction in our hard work (Eccl 5:18). He also says that his reward was the delight in his heart that he found in his labour (Eccl 2:10).  May we be rewarded with such delight by God in our hard work of parenting, teaching, working and serving and find satisfaction in it!  John Amalraj