Have you been compassionate?

When you are struggling and suffocating because of the challenges and trials that come your way, what you need is compassion to be able to survive and feel hopeful.

Here’s Geraldine Gabriel Catral’s story that she shared in Didache, Daily Reflections For Catholics, January – December 2018 issues: “Mother Teresa of Calcutta is a hero of mine. When I was younger, I heard of the Nobel Prize winner because of her extensive work for the poor in India and around the world. But seven years ago, I got to know her in a powerful way through a documentary I chanced upon in our school library. Listening to her speak and the passion she had in following Him: “Each one of those I serve is Jesus in disguise. I have the paradox that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”

“Mother Teresa’s words pierced my heart and brought me to tears. Through her, I learned the same lesson the Gospel teaches us today – that true love for God means loving my neighbor until it hurts. Yes, I must spend the time with a sick relative during his dialysis sessions, even it means staying up past midnight. I must choose kindness over sarcasm when arguing with my hurting sister. I must be mindful of the man on the street and know that he needs not only my spare change but also my smile, my touch, and a listening ear. Like the Samaritan in the story and like Mother Teresa, may love and compassion always be my guide.”

There are many people around us that need compassion. And I believe that compassion should start in our home. Have we been kind to our spouse, our children and those around us? Are we not cruel with our tongue? We must bear in mind that hurting words may be forgiven, but they cannot be forgotten. Have we been generous with our time to spend with our loved ones? Time wasted is time lost. Have we expressed or demonstrated our love to our loved ones? Grab the opportunity to demonstrate your love and compassion to them before it’s too late.

In line with this view, here’s the Mother Teresa’s address to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. “I can never forget the experience I had in visiting a home where they kept all these old parents of sons and daughters who had just put them into an institution and, maybe, forgotten them. I saw that in that home these old people had everything: good food, comfortable place, television and everything. But everyone was looking toward the door. And I did not see single one with a smile on his face.

“I turned to Sister and I asked, “Why do these people, who have every comfort here — why are they all looking toward the door? Why are they not smiling? And Sister said, “This is the way it is, nearly every day they are expecting – they are hoping – that a son or daughter will come to visit them. They are hurt because they are forgotten.” See, this neglect to love brings spiritual poverty. Maybe in our family somebody is lonely, is feeling sick, is feeling worried. Are we there? Are we willing to give until it hurts? These are the questions we must ask ourselves…”