July 23, 2006
Compassion comes in the quietest kindnesses, small acts of love, when someone recognizes the plight of another and attends to their needs (Mark 6:30-34, 53-56). Jesus was not annoyed by the crowd's never-ending needs and seemingly constant intrusions on his 'personal space,' rather he was moved by compassion, as a shepherd who has encountered a lost flock - he does not ignore them, put them off, or do anything short of herd them to safety attending to their needs. The shepherd knows his sheep and their needs (23rd Psalm). The shepherd's compassion need not take the form of grand deeds - but rather, like in the parable of Jesus' feeding of the multitudes with five loaves and two fish, small amounts of faithful generosity can be transformed into life-changing miracles. And ultimately, these acts of compassion transform the shepherd, too - as Frederick Buechner wrote, there can be no peace and joy for me until, finally, there is peace is joy for you, too.