Compassion

Today’s Gospel Text:  As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late; 36 send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat." 37 But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?" 38 And he said to them, "How many loaves have you? Go and see." And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish." 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. Mark 6:34-44

Reflection: Which religion teaches compassion as Jesus teaches us? If we go by them and their concept of compassion then we may even end up condemning Jesus. 

There are many who talk about compassion but if one delves deeply into it with the example and lifestyle of Lord Jesus Christ then one realizes that there is a certain emptiness in the compassion others preach and more so if you have followed them then you will even feel deceived.

If those who want to reject this exposition on the deeper meaning of compassion as understood through the life of Jesus then they are only walking in the path of darkness.

Jesus did not show compassion always, but was compassionate selectively and accordingly and hence his is not a perennial compassion as purported to be practiced by some gurus and spiritual leaders; compassion towards all creatures???  

Therefore compassion is a quality which has to be discerningly exercised in select situations, in keeping with divine wisdom.  

For example, he showed no compassion to the Scribes and Pharisees nor did he show any compassion to the money lenders and traders in the temple.

But seeing the state of the ordinary people who followed him in order to learn the truth of life, which they may have been hungrily seeking,. he did have compassion at that moment of time.  

Hence compassion for them is for the right reason and moves him to the greatest of all action, viz. that of teaching the people about the ways of God; a teaching that will help them through life towards eternity.  

The feeding of the stomach comes in later; and who said that the word of God can’t always be preached on hungry stomachs. In fact they forget that man does not live on bread alone but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

There are some so called guru's, even in the church, who talk about compassion and use these terms to proclaim earthly values of liberation and human emancipation.

Prayer:  Lord in your mercy and compassion teach me the path of life.

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