Compassion

Lectionary readings from Sunday, November 11, 2018...a day late but still true.

Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17

Psalm 127

1 Kings 17:8-16

Psalm 146

Hebrews 9:24-28

Mark 12:38-44

I taught the high school youth yesterday morning. The theme was compassion, and brought out that for Jesus, the priority was compassion for those who normally do not get compassion.

The lesson begins with the story from Luke of Jesus coming upon a funeral procession for the only son of a widow. Jesus is overcome with compassion for the widow and raises the son back to life. The lesson brought out the economic circumstances of a widow during the time of the New Testament, and how Jesus prioritized compassion for those who were oppressed and were outside the support systems that worked for most people.

This really caught my attention because so many of the lectionary passages this week also include them, and many specifically mention widows.

Ruth and Naomi are both widows without sons, and as such, have no claim to land or wealth. The story in Ruth 3 and 4 has Naomi instructing Ruth to appeal to Boaz as a kinsman to rescue them through marriage from the poverty and lack of status they have as childless widows. Boaz had compassion, and eventually, through the generations of this family, came Jesus.

In The 1 Kings passage, Elijah comes to a widow who is nearly out of food, asking her for the little she has left, promising miraculous sustenance in return for her generosity. In this way God provides compassion, not only for Elijah, but also especially for the widow and her son, who were about to starve.

Mark 12 has Jesus warning about the scribes, who demand the respect of the people and profess to be holy while cheating widows. Cheating a widow is kind of the ultimate in depravity. They are cheating someone who is already without rights or property, and has no power to fight back. And then Jesus calls attention to the widow who gives her two small coins---all she had. Thus, she gives more than all those who gave large amounts which they will barely miss because of their abundance of wealth. Jesus speaks of her with respect and compassion, in contrast to the disappointment and frustration he has for those desiring to appear holy.

Psalm 146 lists widows and orphans along with the oppressed, the hungry, prisoners, the blind, the bowed down, and the strangers as those on whom God shows compassion. The Psalm promises rescue.

Psalm 127, while not mentioning widows, includes the truth for that time, that having sons was like having arrows in the hand---like an insurance policy and a symbol of status all rolled into one.

This all resonates with me because of the way these themes coincide with the Sunday School lesson

The question of the lesson for the high school youth, and for myself, is

how do we cultivate compassion in ourselves?

When are we overcome with compassion???

And although the lesson did not refer to Matthew 25:31-48, that passage was fresh in my mind from being at the play, Godspell. Here is yet another instance of Jesus making clear his priorities. We are to have compassion on those who have needs, who are oppressed, who lack status. We are to be able to let go of our own comfort and social safety because of our compassion.

So how do we do that?

I can tell many stories of people who do this, but today I want to focus on one person I learned about yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon I attended a memorial service at the nursing home where Mom died. They have a service every few months for family and friends of those who have passed away. There is music, a meditation and a time of remembrance.

At the front of the chapel was a table filled with vases, each containing water and some greenery. On each side of the table were large containers of assorted fresh flowers. The faces and life dates of each person who had died were projected on a screen behind the table and the family and friends of each person in turn were invited to choose flowers to be placed in the vases in memory of their loved ones.

One of the women who had died was Sally Fleming. She was mentioned in the meditation, because of her desire to welcome people. She would often be near the entryway at the Villa greeting people who came through the door. When someone new became a resident she would make sure to make them welcome and get to know them.

This is significant. Those of us who have had loved ones move to nursing homes know how difficult this move is. At a time when memory may be shaky and familiar surroundings feel most safe, our loved ones are uprooted from the homes they chose and filled with memories to the unfamiliar, where they are cared for by new faces. Having a welcoming presence who actively offers friendship is a priceless gift.

The chaplain imagined Sally taking up that same role in heaven, welcoming others as they arrive. There were many who came forward to place flowers when Sally’s name was read and her photo projected on the screen.

During the service, sixteen persons were remembered. Of those sixteen, I knew five. It is significant that all five of those people lived lives that included a lot of compassion.

May I live my life instructed by their examples.