Christmas Weekday, Tuesday – 05th January 2021 — Gospel: Mk 6,34-44
Compassion for the Suffering
Jesus looks at the large crowd that has surrounded him and has compassion on them. It is rare to have Jesus’ own words to explain his emotional state. In fact, this is the only time where Jesus speaks of his own compassion toward a group of people. Compassion comes from the Latin words “cum passio”, which means to “suffer with.” Jesus truly has suffered with the poor, and continues to suffer with them. The Greek word for “compassion” is translated as “moved with pity” that means to be with “one’s inmost self” or “inmost feelings”. It is said that this word is not used for people for whom one would naturally feel compassion such as friends or neighbors. But often it is used for those far removed and even offensive: lepers (1,41), revolutionaries (6,34), Gentiles (8,2) and demon-possessed (9,22). Thus Jesus was touched to his very innermost being and was motivated to perform an act of great love for those who were suffering. The crowd didn’t do anything to draw out Jesus’ compassion. The only reason why they received his compassion is because they stayed with him for three days. They were there not for a miracle, and that’s why they got one. They were there to see Jesus, to listen and learn and grow. Therefore Jesus’ heart goes out to them, shows his compassion on the undeserving and loves the unlovable.
