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Compassion is love in action. It is needed to heal the hurts and hearts of others. In Matthew 9:1-13 and 18-38, Jesus demonstrated His compassion on several occasions. He was so moved by the lame, the downtrodden and the sick that he reached out to help or heal them. On one occasion, while eating with people who were living in sin, He rebuked the censoring Pharisees as follows: “… go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy (or compassion), not sacrifice,’ for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:13).
In the same way, as we see the condition of the fallen world and the lostness of people around us, let us follow the example of Jesus. Be willing to deal with those who have run out of options with their problems. We should not be afraid to reach out to them. God’s love and message can change anyone.
Sadly, compassion is not a welcomed idea for people in a hurry, which many of us in Singapore are. How does a person have time to show compassion when there are important meetings to attend, urgent assignments to complete, major decisions to make, and even our own problems to solve? However, wasn’t Jesus also busy? He was. What did He do? Just watch? No! He got involved, in fact very involved, because He “came to seek and to save what was lost” (Lk. 19:10). For us who claim to be God’s people, involvement will have to be more than just showing pity. We must actually do something to show love in action (Jam. 2:15-17; 1 Jn. 3:17-20).
Let us, therefore, be prepared to work with society’s rejects in homeless shelters to bring them gospel hope and physical help. Reach out to disoriented members of dysfunctional families to help them regain dignity through faith and pick up life with wellness and proper focus. With others who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” we come alongside to give comfort and bring them spiritual healing in Jesus’ name. A listening ear, a gentle word, and a caring heart – these will help to lift the heavy burdens of weary souls along life’s arduous roads!

Give me a heart sympathetic and tender;
Jesus, like Thine, Jesus, like Thine.
Touched by the needs that are surging around me,
And filled with compassion divine. (Anonymous)

Calvary love leaves us with no option, but compassionate involvement