Empathy in Action

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

14 February 2021 

 

First Reading:  LV 13:1-2, 44-46

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 32:1-2, 5, 11

Second Reading:  1 COR 10:31—11:1

Gospel:  MK 1:40-45

 

Reflection

By: Jose Paulo M. Gonzales

 

"Moved with pity." In stories of Jesus' healing, most of what we hear is how Jesus can restore people to pristine condition even with the people doing things little in appearance but are actually great displays of faith. Not much attention is given to the feeling that made Jesus deem it necessary to heal. And also this is where we focus on today: "pity."

The "pity" we examine here is not that which is synonymous with "patronization" or "condescension." For the pity of Christian quality is not that which is infested with an "I am better than thou"  mentality, but one which understands, communes with, and bears affection for another who is suffering. The closest pity to the Christian character is that we call empathy: the ability to put oneself in another's shoes.

 

The pity most commendable is that which moves us to positive action. We can see someone suffering and we can look wistfully  at them and say: "I pity", but unless and until there is  action to better other's experience, pity stays as it is: a feeling...a feeling that is soon to stagnate when left on its own.

 

The direction pity takes us is another to consider. Towards which action—positive or negative this pity moves us, we should be wary of, for we can think that we are only "looking out for another", but in our haste and disregard for the other's pace and feelings, little do we know, we could be spreading salt on the wounds he or she has long been struggling with.

It is not enough to pity. To pity is static if it ends in itself but bears good if it directs us towards positive action. Further, even if we may be "well-meaning" to another, we must be caring of his or her situation and disposition. We must think about how he or she is feeling, and how fast or slow, how accepting or resistant he or she is about the actions we recommend to him or her out of pity, for to deal with another in disregard can be dehumanizing, undignified,  and unchristian. Such disregard can lead to falling outs that can happen even in the mundanity of the dinner's table.

The pity, or should we say empathy we should espouse is that of Jesus, who looks lovingly at His sheep and in His wistfulness at their predicament, is moved to healing. Our healing, while not miraculous, may come even in simple words, in humble but steady and warm company, as long as we have and nurture the love Jesus had for others and set it ever ablaze within ourselves.

Lastly, as we talk about pity, another important point must be made. We commonly extend pity to those who have less, but do we realize that we should be extending the same loving pity towards those who give us so many and so much but go without being thanked? Our Gospel for today is that of a leper being healed, and in another story, as we recall, God healed another ten, but only one came back to offer his thanks. May we ever be grateful for the kindness God extends us. If we only knew how many and much He gave and still continues to give, the number of our days would never be commensurate avenues for thanksgiving. So it is our words, as limited as they are, in which we can thank the Lord, but more so, in our deeds the—kindness we "pay forward" to others.

Prayer

 

Jesus, as we adopt in our lives the kind of pity You were inspired by, may we be moved to positive action and so better others' lives, not to be content doing nothing with their plight.

May our pity bring healing to others and not damage them through condescension. May we empathize with them and love them so we turn into You and show Your loving face to alleviate them of their suffering.

In the same vein, in Your righteous and loving pity towards us, may Your miraculous healings to us and others develop in us the natural proclivity and ultimately the will to  thank You back as did the one leper You healed and went back to You to give his thanks, and to extend to others the same kindness You graced us with.

All these in Your most holy Name, o Jesus, Amen.

 

 

 

Live Not by Fear, but by Faith

 

 

 

First Sunday of Advent 

29 November 2020

First Reading IS 63:16B-17, 19B; 64:2-7

You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named forever.
Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,
while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,
such as they had not heard of from of old.
No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you
doing such deeds for those who wait for him.
Would that you might meet us doing right,
that we were mindful of you in our ways!
Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;
all of us have become like unclean people,
all our good deeds are like polluted rags;
we have all withered like leaves,
and our guilt carries us away like the wind.
There is none who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to cling to you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and have delivered us up to our guilt.
Yet, O LORD, you are our father;
we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands.

Second Reading 1 COR 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God

always on your account for the grace

of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel  MK 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

 

 

Reflection

By: Art Reyes

 

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. It is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas. It is a Latin word that means approaching, coming, expecting. This is the time for preparation for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the need to be watchful and vigilant. "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come."

It is indeed frightening when we think about the quote as nobody knows when his time will come. Basically, nobody wants to see his death, much more unprepared. However, when we reflect upon it, we can realize that having  that "unknown" is perhaps a blessing.

The Gospel reminds us of our responsibility. What happens to us after we die is determined by how we lead our lives each and every day. We are the ones who decide what our "afterlife" will be. If we live a good life and strive to be loving and kind every day and share our time, gifts, and talents with others, we will likely be rewarded when we finally see our Creator.

However, we can not just sit idly and wait until the last minute. We need to take action. Maybe we can ask ourselves of these questions - Do we share our time, talents, and attention with other people? Do we share and spread love with our family, the people in our offices, our neighbors, and even strangers? If we choose to do these things, we are on the right track! In our death, we will be in God's loving presence!

 

Again, our country experienced the onslaught of super typhoons, two in a row. And that is coupled with the lingering virus threats. These are exceptional times. It is the time for giving and sharing, especially to so many of our brothers and sisters in our country who are suffering. Let us remember that acts of goodness and charity on our part will never be left unnoticed by our God.

 

Life is short, and death is uncertain. Let us free our hearts of hate, selfishness, greed, and replace them with love, compassion, and empathy.

 

I know without a doubt that our country and world will survive this pandemic just like we survive the recent natural calamities. We are not living in fear. We are living in faith! Tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko!

Prayer

 

My God, in all humility we ask You for the grace so that we may live a meaningful life. May we not live a life that is vain and empty. When our life ends, may we be ready to face our living God. Amen.