I’ll Stand By You

Compassion for Others

As we journey with Christ, we become a part of his passion. We connect our passion with that of Christ and others right where we are. Thus we, too, can be frustrated. Do we see our cities the way Jesus saw his after such a long journey? Like Jesus, we have come a long way, deepened our commitment over long miles of prayer and struggle, and stayed with our daily work in the tough trenches where God shapes the lives of real people to create the kingdom of God. And often what we see is a mess. Like Jesus, we see healing and hope, but also moneychangers cheating people in our everyday lives. 

In earlier reflections on spiritual maturity, we recognized that on our journey to holiness, we pass through suffering. It is reassuring, in a strange way, to realize that when we are frustrated, we have come to the place where Jesus stood. The longer we are on our spiritual path, the longer we follow Christ as a compass, we begin to look at others as Jesus looked out at Jerusalem. Our compassion becomes the way our eyes see others, as they are, right where they are.

Facing the suffering of others can be daunting. Where do we even start to respond? Modern prophets give us clues. Mother Teresa’s life inspires a way to see those in need, to touch the poor, to come close especially to those who are lonely. Dorothy Day’s example is to work “by little and by little.” So where do we start? 

A young man I know makes a habit of walking out of a restaurant with leftovers. He will usually encounter someone on the street asking for change. He gives the person his food. 

Should we debate whether it is more helpful to give a person a meal or to work to change the structures that lead to an individual’s being on the street? Why not do both? Some of us can work on the systems that need changing, and some of us can make meals. Some of us will begin with large steps, while some begin with small steps working toward a deeper compassion.

Though we give in different ways, we share a common call to Christ; we are in this together. Saint Paul reminds us we are all parts of one body, Christ’s body: “If one [part] suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy” (1 Cor 12:26). Thus compassion is not a feeling or a way to make ourselves feel better. It is an invitation to connect, to expand, to be creative, and to deepen our spiritual journey. 

So we ask ourselves: What next steps can I take? What risks can I take? How do I see a person who is in need? Each small step can move us to the next small step, and then perhaps to the larger ones. But we have to show we are willing.