Why do we do what we do? Why do we say what we say? Why do we behave as we do? Do we want more money or a promotion at work? Do we want others to know that we're right, or intelligent? Is it that we're jostling for position in a world that will leave us behind if we don't keep ahead of the game? Do we live our lives the way we do because we centre them on ourselves? Perhaps we wouldn't want to use the word 'self-centred', but a lot of what we do or say, and the way in which we do it or say it, is probably to do with protecting or enhancing our own position in society. That's the way much of the western world works and the UK Government's polices over the last few decades have often tended to reinforce that behaviour.
Some of you reading this might be teachers, carers or health workers; those and many others are great jobs to do with looking after or developing other people. How much of what we do in those jobs, and in the rest of our lives, is actually about us, though? Maybe you work in a shop, or do late shifts to keep the country's electricity supply working; if so, the rest of us really appreciate that, but how much of the motivation for such employment is to do with our own interests rather than serving the community? Probably the vast majority of us do what we can to be sensitive to others and help as much as realistically possible, but also make sure that our families and our own lives are put first. That's completely natural, and much of the time right. Family is very important to God. Of course, there have been, and will be, many acts of great heroism when people have completely selflessly put themselves in harm's way to save others, but I think we'll all recognise that that isn't the norm.
As we look through Luke's Gospel, we see that so much of what Jesus did was out of compassion for others. So far we've reached chapter 7 and he has already healed many people (e.g. Luke's Gospel, chapter 4, verse 40) and cast out a lot of demons (e.g. Luke 4:41). Generally he ministered to those who came to him and in that case he healed everyone (e.g. Luke 6:19). Occasionally he would reach out to those who didn't specifically ask him, but in whom he could see faith or who couldn't make the first approach (e.g. Luke 5:31-37). Why did he do this? Why spend so much time looking after people? We are told over and over again that it was because he had compassion on them. He loved people and didn't want them to be ill or demon-possessed. Later on in his ministry, he even fed two large crowds when they were hungry (Luke 9:10-17; Mark's Gospel, chapter 8, verses 1-13). Yet he didn't force himself on anyone; that was to be a hallmark of his ministry. Ultimately he took this approach of unconditional love to a conclusion that was completely at his own expense, as he allowed himself to be crucified in our place. He also taught that we should have the same attittude, even to our enemies (Luke 6:27-36).
Of course, Jesus had harsh words for people at times. Those who didn't want to know about his message, who didn't want to change their ways, who felt that they were righteous and didn't need some carpenter telling them how to live (Mark 6:3). He warned them many times about the perils of ending up in Hell (e.g. Luke 13:22-30). Yet those who came to him were always accepted and he changed their lives. The sinner (probably a prostitute) who came to him, cried over his feet, dried them with her hair and kissed them, as well as pouring expensive ointment over him (Luke 7:36-50), was not the sort of person that a rising religious leader would normally let near him in public, but Jesus allowed her to do this and then forgave her her sins. She wasn't ill, she wasn't demon-possessed, she wasn't hungry, but she had thrown herself on his mercy and worshipped him because she wanted to be forgiven her past life and go forward clean as a new person. So that's what Jesus gave her - a fresh start - because he loved her and could see through what she had become into her broken heart.
If we have options as to how to behave, the correct one to choose is the way of compassion. The New Testament is full of teaching about the importance of love, famously for example, from Jesus (Matthew's Gospel, chapter 22, verses 34-40; Luke 10:25-37), Paul (Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 1-13) and John (John's first letter, chapter 3, verses 11-20). Let us keep our hearts soft towards others. And when we are the ones in need of compassion, if we go to Jesus we shall find that he is still willing to love us - his heart is forever soft towards those who seek him.
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