I was worshiping at my church yesterday, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, and at one particular point in the service, I was overcome with tearful gratitude and humble adoration. After opening songs and prayers, Scripture reading, and the sermon, there is the prayers of the people. An older gentleman in our church (and a retired attorney), Sterling, led it with confidence. At one point in the liturgy, the congregation responded with, 'We praise you, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.' I was overwhelmed with these words, with speaking them in prayer, and with thinking instantly about all the areas in my life that need compassion and comfort, and the areas on our planet that need the compassion and comfort of God our Father.
Compassion set the tone and rhythm for Jesus' ministry. As he was teaching, preaching, healing, and feeding, his heart was full of compassion, and his actions made this real to a helpless and harrassed people: Matthew 9:35-37, Matthew 14:13-15, and Matthew 20:33-34.
As we go through our days, may we remember the compassion of Christ for us, and may we live this compassion in a way that comforts others.
Amen, Daniel. May it be so!
Posted by: Deb | September 22, 2008 at 02:25 PM