Jesus was moved to the depths of his being...
What do we do with "the ache" of our society, of our world, of our own families...
We may try to escape the aching:
- we may stop listeinig to the news
- we may try to protect our hearts with explanations that lessen the impact of the stories and images we are bombarded with (e.g. he's probably lazy, which is why he's unemployed)
- we may bury our lives in our work, career or sport and entertainment…
- we may try to build a christian church which keeps our minds on heavenly things, so that we're not troubled by the aching of the world
BUT
The church cannot be the place of perfection that some people want or expect.
In fact to describe God in terms of perfection is to ignore the gospel!!! God is LOVE!!!
Love is always seeking to be shared. God's perfect love is willing to "touch" the imperfection that is our lives - that is our world. ("For God so loved the world...")
Compassion is listening
we may not be able to change another persons circumstances, but sometimes listening, in itself, is the beginning of a new story. This may be the only “counter” sign of acceptance in a world of rejection.
MK 1:40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Compassion is responding to “the call”
What is a call? hearing a cry, seeing a need...
(I would love to hear your reflections on this sermon! Click on "comments" below and follow the instructions to record a comment and join the discussion.)
No comments:
Post a Comment