BE COMPASSIONATE

BE COMPASSIONATE                Monday – September 27, 2010

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” – Zechariah 7:9

In October 2009, Father Edward Hinds of St. Patrick’s Church in Chatham, New Jersey was brutally murdered. The alleged attacker was Jose Feliciano, the former church janitor who was dismissed because of church finances.
After the murder, the church grieved and began the process of forgiveness. 
At a meeting of the church’s school, parents asked what to tell their children to prevent them from saying something harmful to Jose’s daughter who attended the school.  The principal replied, "Tell them, 'when you speak, let Christ fill your hearts'."
Jose’s daughter graduated from eighth grade in June 2010. Author William McGurn, whose daughter graduated in the same class, wrote about Jose’s daughter: “When this young lady walked across the gym floor to collect her diploma, she did so secure in the knowledge that at St. Pat's she is more than a student. At St. Pat's she is loved.”

The Lord puts us in situations every day where we are to be compassionate to others and to demonstrate the love of God. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can be more compassionate to others. 

“Do you wish to receive mercy? Show mercy to your neighbor?” – John Chrysostom 

God’s Word: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” – Matthew 23:23