Advent Day 13

Friday, December 13th

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. — Matthew 9:35-36 (NIV)

Nurse and writer Christie Watson drove eight hours to meet Rachael, “the kindest nurse in Britain.” Rachael took care of people on the edges of society, so far on the periphery that not many could cope with the bundle of issues and illnesses that complicated their lives—drugs, violence, crime, and

serious neglect. How did she do it, day in and day out? Christie wanted to know. “We don’t have time to judge them,” Rachael described, “because if we’re busy judging them, we don’t have time to love them.” Perhaps Rachael is defining what is at the heart of compassion. Compassion is not about judging who deserves our attention or care. It is not about waiting for someone to change their behaviors or actions before we act in kindness. Compassion is, at its root, suffering with the person before us.

(Literally, it’s what the word means in Latin: com= with, passus = suffering.) For anyone who has ever gone through something serious, this kind of compassion is the magic that goes straight to the heart, transforming both the receiver and giver.

O God, give me the grace to respond with compassion rather than judgment in every situation. Amen