Article April 18, 2011 Issue

Sigh for compassion

By Margaret Rogers

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
—Matthew 14:14

One of the most compelling calls for compassionate living is chapter 13 of St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. When I hear it read, I often think of a story a teacher at a church school told me years ago. She was preparing her class to read the chapter aloud at a special assembly. They were fourth or fifth graders as I recall, and though they could read it intelligibly, none of the spirit was coming through. She decided to read it to them, putting all the feeling she could into it.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (New King James Version).

About the author

Margaret Rogers practices and teaches Christian Science healing, and lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She is also a member of the Christian Science Board of Directors.

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