Compassion – Mark 1:40-45

The whole COVID experience has made me appreciate again how courageous the medical profession is to work so tirelessly and selflessly against any virus or any medical condition that affects us as humans.
I was also struck by how much Jesus did this as well. He continually treated and healed people with diseases that not only affected their health but also meant they were, in many cases, isolated from their communities. He knew that in touching them he would also be considered “unclean” in his society. He would have also realised that, in healing these people, his life would never be the same again. For Jesus though, compassion was more important to him than anything else. He took action and healed people and therefore they were also able to reconnect with their community. All of this caused me to reflect: Compassion without action is just pity. Compassion with action is courageous.

Prayer: Heavenly Father as I am moved to compassion by something I witness, give me also the power to be moved to action. Amen.
Paul Fielke