As we begin the Dormition Fast we hear the teaching of Christ about forgiving debts found in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 18:23-35). But what stuck out to me was the lack of compassion the servant showed towards others. In growing up as a boy of course we all knew that "You don't tug on Superman's cape; you don't spit into the wind; you don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger, and you don't mess around with Jim" (Jim Croce) Certainly words to live by, but where do we learn about compassion and mercy? Out Lord ends this thought in Matthew with this question: “Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” [Mt. 18:33]
I am very thankful for God’s mercy, no doubt!! What are ways we can show mercy and compassion to one another? St. Basil the Great helps us with that: "The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit." And of course our greatest gift is time, making time for people because they matter, and please don’t forget prayer!!
St. Seraphim of Sarov writes: "The Lord seeks a heart filled to overflowing with love for God and our neighbor; this is the throne on which He loves to sit and on which He appears in the fullness of His heavenly glory. ‘Son, give me thy heart,' He says, 'and all the rest I Myself will add to thee,' for in the human heart the Kingdom of God can be contained." (The Acquisition of the Holy Spirit: Chapter 7, Little Russian Philokalia Vol. 1; St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood pgs. 104-105) How much room in your heart will you give Him?
Compassion and pity are emotional responses as we see others suffering, but pity is more like an arm chair quarterback reaction, and compassion is actually rolling up your sleeves and jumping into help! Compassion becomes personal as we allow our hearts to be involved! That being said, now rest assured folks have plenty of excuses for not getting involved. Just ask our brotherhood, sisterhood and church cleaning and bazaar leaders as they plea for help. I know it just doesn’t suit all the time and that is certainly to be expected! But missing opportunity after opportunity seems a bit negligent for our salvation. St Ephraim the Syrian wrote: “If you have shown compassion for people here [on earth], that will be of wonderful help to you at the Day of Judgment.”
Practicing compassion is a path to salvation! St. Isacc the Syrian wrote: “And what is a merciful heart? It is the heart's burning for the sake of the entire creation, for men, for birds, for animals, for demons and for every created thing; and by the recollection and sight of them the eyes of a merciful man pour forth abundant tears. From the strong and vehement mercy which grips his heart and from his great compassion, his heart is humbled and he cannot bear to hear or see any injury or slight sorrow in creation. For this reason he continually offers up tearful prayer, even for irrational beasts, for the enemies of the truth and for those who harm him, that they be protected and receive mercy. And in like manner he even prays for the family of reptiles because of the great compassion that burns in his heart without measure in the likeness of God.” (St. Isaac The Syrian, Homily 81, from "The River of Fire", Dr. Alexandre Kalomiros)
I’ll end with these words: “Everything that is, is His! (Psalm 24:1) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”(Col 1:16) May we all take root in the examples the Holy Myrrhbearers set for us with their compassion and mercy they showed to our Lord and to each other!
Fr. Gabriel Weller 8-16-2028
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