Exercising The Attributes of Christianity: Compassion

Continuing from the last article about exercising the attributes of Christianity, you're now reading article two in the series: compassion. This article series will explore the three attributes that define Jesus and Christianity: Love, Kindness, and Compassion. 

Compassion

Compassion is another very important attribute. Especially now that there is the perceived feeling that Compassionate Christianity is being replaced with “Law-and-Order” Christianity. In a civic society, we do need to follow the laws. However, we also need to recognize and help those in need when inhumane things happen to them. Where also called out to recognize when inhumane things happen, and not champion it. It would be a contradiction of compassion. Compassion needs to be demonstrated for the fact that there are good people who are going through torment. Children are going trough torrent and experiencing a personal Hell right now. Their parents aren't their with them when they need them the most. The fact is that we need to pray for the families of those separated. Most parents are going through the trauma of not knowing were their children are at. What would happen if you were told one day that your children at school were taken to a detention center somewhere, and they didn't tell the locations. Your heart would be torn from you, and I would imagine that many would scream in pain at the top of their lungs.

I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these brothers and sisters, you are refusing to help me (Matthew 25:40). As Christians, we are obligated to helping those in need when where called upon it. I still remember it well. It was the Summer of 2014. Their was a flood of immigrants that came into the country fleeing the terrors of the homeland from various countries from Central and South America. They were fleeing political corruption and oppressive governments, relationships with spouse's who see murder as a legitimate option, economic hardship, etc. Often times, they came with very little. They traveled from South and Central America, and they arrived here through Mexico. The Border Processing Centers were filled beyond capacity, so the Border Patrol worked alongside various charities, religious organizations, and various non-profits. I was working with The Salvation Army. We worked at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen. The Salvation Army handled the food distribution. I volunteered there for a week, with other Salvation Army Corps throughout Texas.

It was July I believe. As you may or may not know, South Texas is not a forgiving place during that time of year. The temperature would be in the triple digits. The heat would beat down upon you with the intensity that at times, you would be wishing for death itself. At Scared Heart, I quickly got use to the kitchen duties. Food preparation and distribution, and kitchen cleaning and sanitation as well. The parking area had inflatable tents that housed the immigrants. They had portable AC units in them. They would have too. I can tell you this though, the AC's working overtime can't do justice for the furnace known as the South Texas Summer. I sometimes would get a quick glimpse inside as I walked by delivering the garbage on one of my trash runs. Even with those AC's, I imagined that it wasn’t easy to be in them. Makes you realize how fortunate we are.

After the trash runs, I would return to the main dining area to continue fulfilling the kitchen duties, from cleaning the counter, preparing supplies, sweeping the floor, wiping the tables with disinfectant, etc. This giant room was converted into two parts: clothing/goods sorting, and the dining/kitchen area. Whenever mealtime would commence, the immigrants would arrive into the dining room. Everybody present by the door would start clapping their hands together and welcoming in the immigrants, as if their one of their own. In fact, because where all God's children, they are one of our own. Different circumstances doesn't change the fact that their still a living person with a heart, soul, and mind capable of independent thought. At the time though, even I would admit that I that the practice seemed odd and unorthodox. I saw these immigrants with my own eyes during that Summer of 2014. When the meal was served, many of the families would bow their heads and pray for the food that they received. Most of the time, the menu consisted of beef stew, along with saltines, and fruit. Originally, I heard that Mexican and American food was originally served, but the diets of those immigrants didn't conform to our eating habits. We love our grease! Most got sick. That's why the menu changed to soups and fruit. They were so grateful for what they received. They showed no disdain for the food choice whatsoever. They had the biggest smiles across their faces. Food has the effect of unity that brings people together, regardless of their backgrounds. Their despair of the moment would disappear, and it would be replaced with the joy that they would be able to eat together as a family. A moment that many of times, we on this side of the river take for granted. These immigrants weren't the villains and diabolical criminals that I've been told that they were. Compassion calls on us to show mercy and love for those who have less. It's important to have respect for the law. However, when we make law-and-order the main priority, compassion loses at the end of the day. The immigrants that I saw in 2014 were among the nicest people I've ever meet. I admit that this is the reason why I have so much compassion for them. They had so little, and yet, they had large hearts.

The reasons why Jesus had to be the sacrifice on the cross is because he was still a man. A man that went through the same grievances that we all do. A angel could not relate to our pain and suffering. He experienced temptation, greed, and power. He also went through the same pain as we do. Many could argue that Jesus knows what its like to be a refugee as well. Jesus's parents had to leave Nazareth to Bethlehem due to a census dictated by the Roman Government. After Jesus was born, his family had to flee Bethlehem because King Herod passed the order that the male babies in the town were to be killed. They fled their birthplace and went to Egypt. A refugee is a person that flees their home due to persecution and turmoil based on social and/or economic class, gender, race, or religion. The baby Jesus and his family would have fallen into one or more of these categories. By modern standards, Jesus and his family would have been considered refugees by the Geneva Convention Articles of 1951.

Compassion doesn't stop with the immigrants though. We have our own poor that sometimes get forgotten due to the attention that the undocumented immigrants get. They need the attention as well. We need to display compassion to the homeless vets that have sacrificed their own needs so that they could serve our country. Many, especially the Vietnam Vets, lived through their own personal hell as well. In many of the major cities in our country, there are homeless children as well. Children that don't have parents for whatever reasons. Maybe they died or they rejected their children. And now that it's Summer time, there's those in need of staying cool. Again, across the country, Mother Nature is unleashing her fury. The heat can be felt everywhere. Many are have died from heat strokes. Many who first for water and to stay cool from the unforgiving heat. Many are going through the pain of not able to stay cool for whatever reasons. These are the people that we're called on to help. They are still people, and they have both physical and spiritual needs that need fulfillment, and we are called on to reach out to these people as well. During his ministry, Jesus reached out to the poor and those marginalized by society on multiple occasions. He feed them as well. He realized that people's spiritual needs would not have been fulfilled unless their physical needs have been meet as well. 

Regardless, Jesus knew that compassion was essential because he all have the same needs. He realized the human condition, because, well he was still man after all. He knew of our pain and suffering, and he would have wanted us to show compassion for each other because of the pain that we go through on a daily basis. The demonstration of compassion, like feeding someone who can't feed themselves, or providing a water bottle for someone of thirst, would go a long way. It would make the world slightly better. Many people think that there as to be pariahs that is responsible for all our suffering. There is no need for diabolical villains because just living life and experiencing it can be harsh . With that said, many people feel that they have to make a grand display of compassion to help people. However, just the smallest acts of compassion can make a world of difference. Actions speaks louder than words.