Hayden Carlo said he was driving when an officer pulled him over for an expired registration. The father of two young children told the officer he had no excuse, except to admit he simply didn't have the money.
"You get paid, pay your bills, and there's your money. It's gone," Carlo told KTVT-TV, Dallas/Fort Worth. "I said 'there's no explanation for why I haven't done it, except I don't have the money.' I said 'it was either feed my kids or get my registration done.' "
The officer, who has asked to remain anonymous, handed Carlo a traffic ticket envelope. Inside was a $100 bill. "He helped me out when I needed it and I appreciate that. I'll never forget that man," Carlo says. "It definitely restored my faith in God." -UPI, December 12, 2012
What is the principal evidence that compassion has been extended? What does compassion leave in its wake? The most significant consequence of compassion in action is, it alleviates suffering. It lifts people's burdens and makes life more tolerable. And that's what Jesus was all about.
Christ has often been called, "The Man of Compassion." And that's because He entered the arena of human suffering and lifted burdens. That's what mercy is. Mercy is more than an emotional experience of feeling someone's pain it's doing what's possible to alleviate it. Compassion is action!
Jesus couldn't look at people without being stirred to intervene. And He was specifically moved when people experienced pain, sickness, and sorrow. He was moved when people were hungry or lonely or confused.
When we read the Gospels, they tell us of Jesus and His great compassion for mankind. We see that our Savior was moved deeply in His inner being by the needs of those around Him. Jesus' ministry was filled with acts of compassion. Think of how many times we find him healing people who are physically sick, delivering people who have spiritual oppression, feeding people, doing miracles to feed people.
Jesus makes it clear that He expects His followers to care for those who are needy – “The least of these my brothers and sisters.” Jesus said when you help the “least of these,” you are in fact serving Jesus. The Lord is especially close to us, actually dwelling inside of us, when we have compassion on others, when we love and care for one another the same way He loves and cares for us.
We cannot be compassionate when we are in truth alone, when we know truths but do not act on them in our daily lives. We become compassionate, loving, and caring toward others only when we do the good works the Lord teaches us in the Word.
Because to do them (good works) we have to quit being selfish and materialistic to have time and energy to do for others. When we do good works, then the Lord fills us with love and compassion for others. When we have compassion for others, we enter into a closer relationship with the Lord.
The Heavenly Doctrines teach us that when we feel pity or compassion toward others, the Lord enters into us with an influx of love. This is said to be an admonition, a kind of suggestion or command from the Lord to reach out to another person. "When those who are in perception feel compassion," we read, "they know that they are being admonished by the Lord to give aid" (Arcana Coelestia 6737).
You see, when we feel compassion, we are being urged and prompted by the Lord to act. This is one outstanding way of experiencing the Lord in our lives.
Scripture: Mark 1:40-42; Psalm 145:8,9; Luke 7:13; Psalm 111:4,5; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Galatians 6:2
Prayer: Lord, open our eyes that we may see you in our brothers and sisters. Lord, open our ears that we may hear the cries of the hungry, the cold, the frightened, the oppressed. Lord, open our hearts that we may love each other as you love us. Renew in us your spirit. Lord, free us and make us one. Amen -Mother Teresa
May God always be with you,
CarrieAnn
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