Listen

“The Lord is merciful and compassionate, very patient, and full of faithful love. The Lord is good to everyone and everything; God’s compassion extends to all his handiwork!” All that you have made gives thanks to you, Lord; all your faithful ones bless you! They speak of the glory of your kingdom; they talk all about your power, to inform all human beings about God’s power and the majestic glory of God’s kingdom.

Psalm 145:8-12

Think

In our psalm for today, we hear that God is “good to everyone and everything; God’s compassion extends to all.” This declaration is a word of praise. God’s goodness knows no bounds! God’s love and compassion are bigger than we can imagine! Thanks be to God!

I also see this declaration as a word of challenge and an invitation. If God is good and compassionate to all, then we are called to follow God’s example. The word “compassion” comes from a German word that means “with suffering.” To show compassion is to care deeply, to be in solidarity with someone, to stay with them in their suffering. Compassion isn’t about easy answers or quick fixes. Our faith in God propels us to act, and this acting isn’t just a one-time thing. We stick with each other. We continue to pay attention to the opportunities around us to show compassion and goodness to people and creation. We join with God in working for peace and justice, knowing that it will take patience and mercy, that we’ll need to rely on God’s power and love.

Laura Edgar

Question to Ponder:

Who needs your compassion today?

Pray

God of compassion, thank you that you stick with me, that your love extends to all. Teach me to love like you do and to show compassion to people and creation. Amen.

Go

Let’s go, vamos

Let’s run God’s race

With love and action

Come on, let’s go: ¡Vamos!

– ¡Vamos! by Colleen and David Burroughs