A week ago Sunday, I preached on compassion and spoke of Jesus's compassion to the widow. Yet somehow my words seem overly simplistic and pale in comparison with the tragic shooting in Orlando. I made compassion sound so easy but it becomes more complex when an event happens that is beyond our comprehension.
However, we are still called to compassion. We are to share in the suffering of those who have died, those who were injured, their families and their communities. We are called to listen, to pray and to participate in extending compassion. This is where the rubber meets road and we must choose how we respond because Jesus does not say only to love those who were injured.
Jesus says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Last night as I watched the news and saw the pictures of the 42 young people who were killed a deep sadness welled up inside me but I confess I feel indifferent at the shooter and his family. Yet I know I must pray for him, for his family, for his friends and for those who hate. This does not negate their actions or mean forgiving overnight but it does mean acknowledging that I am not any better than the shooter. All of us have the capacity to hate to the point of wanting to kill.
In having compassion, I realize that I must recognize that I have no idea what it is like to born into a war-torn country, what it is like to only experience family by joining a terrorist group or be able to have food only if I can carry out violence. I do not know what it is like to be so filled with hate and be in so much pain that I see causing harm to others as the only solution. It is difficult but by the grace of God as I pray for those who died so innocently; I also must pray for those who participated in the killing. I must confess my own sin and go forth extending compassion more deeply being less indifferent towards my neighbors especially those who are different than me. If I allow hate to consume me, then I am only perpetuating the cycle instead of being part of the solution. Thus in my own imperfection just for today I will share in the suffering of both victims and the perpetrators and will freely offer love to those around me whether they deserve it or not.
However, we are still called to compassion. We are to share in the suffering of those who have died, those who were injured, their families and their communities. We are called to listen, to pray and to participate in extending compassion. This is where the rubber meets road and we must choose how we respond because Jesus does not say only to love those who were injured.
Jesus says, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Last night as I watched the news and saw the pictures of the 42 young people who were killed a deep sadness welled up inside me but I confess I feel indifferent at the shooter and his family. Yet I know I must pray for him, for his family, for his friends and for those who hate. This does not negate their actions or mean forgiving overnight but it does mean acknowledging that I am not any better than the shooter. All of us have the capacity to hate to the point of wanting to kill.
In having compassion, I realize that I must recognize that I have no idea what it is like to born into a war-torn country, what it is like to only experience family by joining a terrorist group or be able to have food only if I can carry out violence. I do not know what it is like to be so filled with hate and be in so much pain that I see causing harm to others as the only solution. It is difficult but by the grace of God as I pray for those who died so innocently; I also must pray for those who participated in the killing. I must confess my own sin and go forth extending compassion more deeply being less indifferent towards my neighbors especially those who are different than me. If I allow hate to consume me, then I am only perpetuating the cycle instead of being part of the solution. Thus in my own imperfection just for today I will share in the suffering of both victims and the perpetrators and will freely offer love to those around me whether they deserve it or not.
