Embracing love and mercy in our relationships

Feb 22, 2025

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Readings: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23;
1 Corinthians 15:45-49;
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

For many of us, the word “compassion” tends to bring about a feeling of sympathy empathy, pity and feeling sorry for someone. However, if we define compassion just by these feelings, then what we express as compassion is not as deep as what we are called to be. The term “compassion” derives from the Latin roots com, meaning “with,” and passio, meaning “suffering.” Thus, compassion literally means “to suffer with.” This etymology underscores a profound empathy, a willingness to share in the suffering of others. In Hebrew, the word for compassion is rakhum, which is related to rekhem, meaning “womb,” suggesting a deep, nurturing love akin to that of a mother for her child.

The readings today invite us to reflect deeper on the virtue of compassion, especially as it pertains to our relationships with those closest to us. The Gospel of Luke challenges us to embody a love that transcends natural inclinations, urging us to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Very often, our compassion is expressed merely in words, but it never extends to our action towards others.

In the First Book of Samuel, we encounter a powerful example of compassion in the relationship between David and Saul. Despite being pursued by Saul, who sought his life, David refrains from harming him when given the opportunity. Instead, he chooses to spare Saul, demonstrating mercy and respect for the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 26:7-9). This act of compassion highlights the strength required to show kindness to those who may not deserve it, reflecting a commitment to a higher moral standard. It also takes much wisdom to discern that, ultimately, judgement belongs to God and not mere mortals.

Psalm 103 further illuminates the nature of divine compassion: "The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger, rich in mercy... He does not treat us according to our sins or repay us according to our faults" (Psalm 103:8,10). This passage reassures us of God's unwavering compassion towards humanity, serving as a model for how we should treat others.

In the context of our daily lives, practising compassion begins within our closest relationships — our family and friends. These are the individuals with whom we share our most intimate moments, and yet, they are often the ones we take for granted or treat with impatience. Scripture guides us to extend the same compassion to them as we would to strangers or even enemies. The Gospel of Luke emphasises this by stating, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them” (Luke 6:32). True compassion calls us to go beyond reciprocation; it challenges us to love unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. This means listening attentively to a family member's concerns, offering support during difficult times, and forgiving mistakes without holding grudges.

Moreover, the call to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36) reminds us that our actions should mirror the divine compassion we receive. In our homes, this can manifest as creating an environment where each person feels valued and understood, fostering open communication, and addressing conflicts with empathy rather than judgment. Practising compassion also involves recognising humanity in those closest to us. It's easy to become desensitised to the struggles of those we see every day, but Scripture encourages us to remain vigilant in our empathy. As 1 Peter 3:8 advises, “Be likeminded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

The daily struggle and challenge for us is that we often find ourselves showing compassion to those who are far removed from us. We usually have the tendency to express compassion to the world at large and those oppressed in our society and in our church. We seem to be more willing to listen and empathise with those who are outside of our family and people may even see us as someone who is very compassionate but when we go home to our family, we put on a different personality, becoming the total opposite of who we are to outsiders. When that happens, we become insincere and, to a certain extent, hypocritical.

In essence, the Scriptures call us to embody compassion in all aspects of our lives, starting with those nearest to us. By doing so, we not only strengthen our relationships but also reflect the love and mercy that God continually extends to us. Let the response to the Responsorial Psalm be our daily guide because, as God is compassion and love, so too, as children of God, we are all called to live out this compassion and love in both our words and actions.