A COMPASSIONATE LIFE
Luke 7:36-44 "One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of hear head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, if this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. and he answered, say it Teacher. A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, the one, I suppose for whom he cancelled the larger debt. And he said to him, you have judged rightly. Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, do you see this woman? I enter your house, you game me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair."
How can we live a compassionate life, channeling God's love for us into genuine love for our neighbors? Jesus posed a simple but deeply pointed question to Simon the Pharisee: "Do you see this woman?" (Luke 7:44). Simon, of course, had seen a lot of her, from his perspective, a notorious sinner had interrupted his dinner, behaved shamefully, and caused a scene with perfume. He judged the woman quickly and harshly, however, what Simon failed to see was the woman herself: a broken but beautiful daughter of God; fallen and corrupted, yet bearing her Creator's image. He missed her deep pain, sorrow, and vulnerable hope, Simon saw so he thought everything but proved blind to what really mattered.
In contrast, Jesus did see the woman, He addresses her directly and tenderly, acknowledging her pain personally and restoring her gently. It's a redemptive and love-filled response. The foundation of a compassionate life is learning to see people, just as Jesus did, truly. Often, service work is done without taking the time to ask and listen to what people actually want or need, this though is fruitless. The compassionate life is primarily personal, it must be rooted in genuine, direct relationships, not vague issues. We cannot love causes, we can only love people. How can can you better reflect Jesus' compassion towards them? In whatever spheres you inhabit, do you see the people around you?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help me not to judge or overlook, but to see with the eyes of Your love. Let me notice the struggles, the beauty, and the humanity in those I encounter, responding with tenderness and care. And give me a heart that pauses to listen, that acts with empathy, and that reflects Jesus' compassion. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Shalom!!1
Luke 7:36-44 "One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of hear head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, if this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. and he answered, say it Teacher. A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, the one, I suppose for whom he cancelled the larger debt. And he said to him, you have judged rightly. Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, do you see this woman? I enter your house, you game me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair."
How can we live a compassionate life, channeling God's love for us into genuine love for our neighbors? Jesus posed a simple but deeply pointed question to Simon the Pharisee: "Do you see this woman?" (Luke 7:44). Simon, of course, had seen a lot of her, from his perspective, a notorious sinner had interrupted his dinner, behaved shamefully, and caused a scene with perfume. He judged the woman quickly and harshly, however, what Simon failed to see was the woman herself: a broken but beautiful daughter of God; fallen and corrupted, yet bearing her Creator's image. He missed her deep pain, sorrow, and vulnerable hope, Simon saw so he thought everything but proved blind to what really mattered.
In contrast, Jesus did see the woman, He addresses her directly and tenderly, acknowledging her pain personally and restoring her gently. It's a redemptive and love-filled response. The foundation of a compassionate life is learning to see people, just as Jesus did, truly. Often, service work is done without taking the time to ask and listen to what people actually want or need, this though is fruitless. The compassionate life is primarily personal, it must be rooted in genuine, direct relationships, not vague issues. We cannot love causes, we can only love people. How can can you better reflect Jesus' compassion towards them? In whatever spheres you inhabit, do you see the people around you?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help me not to judge or overlook, but to see with the eyes of Your love. Let me notice the struggles, the beauty, and the humanity in those I encounter, responding with tenderness and care. And give me a heart that pauses to listen, that acts with empathy, and that reflects Jesus' compassion. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Shalom!!1
A COMPASSIONATE LIFE
Luke 7:36-44 "One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of hear head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, if this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. and he answered, say it Teacher. A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, the one, I suppose for whom he cancelled the larger debt. And he said to him, you have judged rightly. Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, do you see this woman? I enter your house, you game me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair."
How can we live a compassionate life, channeling God's love for us into genuine love for our neighbors? Jesus posed a simple but deeply pointed question to Simon the Pharisee: "Do you see this woman?" (Luke 7:44). Simon, of course, had seen a lot of her, from his perspective, a notorious sinner had interrupted his dinner, behaved shamefully, and caused a scene with perfume. He judged the woman quickly and harshly, however, what Simon failed to see was the woman herself: a broken but beautiful daughter of God; fallen and corrupted, yet bearing her Creator's image. He missed her deep pain, sorrow, and vulnerable hope, Simon saw so he thought everything but proved blind to what really mattered.
In contrast, Jesus did see the woman, He addresses her directly and tenderly, acknowledging her pain personally and restoring her gently. It's a redemptive and love-filled response. The foundation of a compassionate life is learning to see people, just as Jesus did, truly. Often, service work is done without taking the time to ask and listen to what people actually want or need, this though is fruitless. The compassionate life is primarily personal, it must be rooted in genuine, direct relationships, not vague issues. We cannot love causes, we can only love people. How can can you better reflect Jesus' compassion towards them? In whatever spheres you inhabit, do you see the people around you?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help me not to judge or overlook, but to see with the eyes of Your love. Let me notice the struggles, the beauty, and the humanity in those I encounter, responding with tenderness and care. And give me a heart that pauses to listen, that acts with empathy, and that reflects Jesus' compassion. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Shalom!!1
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