The hard work of compassion

"As Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd" Mark 6.34


No matter where Jesus went, there they were.  People flocked to him, pressing upon him and trying to get just a touch, just a word, maybe a crust of bread, maybe a miracle.  It was enough to wear a person out.

Yet, Jesus saw the great crowd and had compassion for them, and in spite of his hunger and fatigue, he began to teach, to touch, to heal.  You can picture Jesus walking among the demanding crowds, like a shepherd walking in the midst of his milling flock of sheep: the sheep crying out in their confusion turning this way and that, packed together for a sense of security.  There is Jesus in the midst of them, within an arm's reach, working the crowd for the sake of the Divine Creator.

Compassion requires up close and personal commitment.  The word itself means 'to suffer with' and 'suffering with' cannot be done from afar.  Compassion doesn't ignore or circumvent or even turn a blind eye to the suffering before them.  Compassion walks into the crowd, staying within arms' length, hearing and smelling the needs of others.

God's great act of compassion was to be present among us in Jesus.  Thus is the power of the incarnation = God taking on human flesh.  In Jesus, God walked among us, within arms' reach, up close and personal.  This was no virtual reality; Jesus was no hologram.  As we suffered so suffered Jesus; as we die, so Jesus died.  Compassion - to suffer with another.

Mark records no special miracle performed that day, but of course, having the Savior of the Cosmos within arms' length comes amazingly close.

Hangin' with the wrong crowd.....

"This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

They didn't like the company that Jesus kept: those tax collectors and sinners, rather than Pharisees and legal experts.

It's getting late in the game for Jesus; time is running out.  Time is running out for those around Jesus to grasp the power of his presence among them - which is an incarnated message of God's loving intent toward this creation and all its creatures.

So he tells them a story: a wealthy sheep owner loses one sheep.  He goes out, leaving behind the 99, and searches until he finds the 'one.'  You would do the same thing, right?  No, they probably wouldn't.   No 'one' sheep is worthy the well being of the 99.

Well, you see, that is where you get lost yourself.  To this shepherd each 'one' is worthy and treasured.  Each 'one' that is lost must be found.  Even you; even me.

And when it is, we will all rejoice together.  Friends, family, community....saints below and saints above....the whole company of heaven...will rejoice.  

Got it?  That's the kind of God you have; that's my Father and your Creator - out in the world seeking the lost 'ones' and bringing them home.   Remember that when you, who were once lost, are found: there is more work to do, more lost 'ones' to find.   Our task is not to complain about their appearance or willfulness in getting lost, our task is to rejoice with all of heaven.

Oh, and give thanks to God for God's mercy and love.  Luke 15.1-7