Compassion

In Sunday school last week, we discussed the story of the Good Samaritan.  Read this part of the passage, as found in the Common English Bible:

A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was.  But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion."  (Luke 10:33)

Did you know that the word compassion has its root meaning in "to suffer with."  The Samaritan suffered with the man on the road.  We are called to do the same.

As Easter approaches, we will travel through "Passion Sunday" - the Sunday (also known as Palm Sunday) when we remember how Jesus suffered with us through his own suffering.  As we seek to follow the example of the Good Samaritain, we have an even better role model - Christ.

How in your life - in my life - today can we show compassion?  It's not feeling sorry for someone; its a deeper, stronger response.  Compassion is stepping into that person's life and experiencing it, and then responding to that with love.

May we have compassion today.