Across the Pastor’s Desk by Kent Otterman

I’d like to share a true story of compassion that I came across recently.

A woman shuffled onto the subway. She was old, and she had only ragged clothes to protect her from the bitter Chicago winter wind. She took the nearest seat, her shoulders hunched against the cold and her eyes down. Her white, cracked, bony hands clutched a worn shawl tightly around her neck.

At the next stop, an energetic young man strode confidently onto the train, his cheeks red with health. His clothes were sharp, his hair was immaculate, his step was graceful. He saw the woman’s silent misery. Three stops later, as the train slowed, he glided by her to the other door and disappeared into the night.

On her lap lay his brown leather gloves.

Compassion is sometimes defined as love in action. The Bible says that when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, for they were confused and helpless like sheep without a shepherd (Matt 9:36). Moved by compassion, Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people who were hungry, healed people of all kinds of diseases, delivered people from demons and even raised some people from the dead.

You and I are not the Son of God, so we cannot do what he did.

Even so, if we love and trust in Jesus we will be moved with compassion for those in need.

One day all people will be gathered before Jesus, and he will say to some, “I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me.”

When questioned about these things, Jesus will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matt. 25:35-39, 40)

Lord, may you fill us with your compassion for people who come across our path, especially people in need. We cannot do the miracles you were able to do, but may we understand that compassion is itself a miracle of your love and grace.

The Rev. Kent Otterman is the chaplain at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea and pastor of Round Prairie Lutheran Church of rural Glenville and Faith Lutheran Church of London.