Article June 21, 1969 Issue

"Moved with compassion"

CORA SLAUGHTER

Compassion is a beautiful word. It connotes mercy, utter kindness, warm sympathy. More than this, compassion is a powerful force. It begets action. It moves one to heal. It impelled the mighty healing works of Christ Jesus, the incomparable saviour all mankind.

How often the Gospel account records that compassion was the Master's first response to the multitudes. "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered aboard, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."^{Matt. 9:36–38;}

The Master could see that the multitudes, lacking the powerful focus of Truth, were unconscious of perfection, health, opportunity, everlasting joy. Like men starving amid a veritable feast, they couldn't see what they had because they didn't know who they were. This moved Jesus with compassion, and it should move us. The Christ, Truth, compassionately illustrates that man is not a beggar, a supplicant for good, but the very evidence of good, the heir of heaven, the beloved child of limitless divine Principle. In this perfect and provable working relationship of Father and son, the complete unity in action of Principle and idea, lies the solution to every human problem. What the Master knew of this fact made him compassionate.

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