"Every human being has a great, yet often unknown, gift to care, to be compassionate, to become present to the other, to listen, to hear and to receive. If that gift would be set free and made available, miracles could take place" (Henri T. M. Nouwen).

The word "compassion" means to suffer with another, to enter into the suffering of the other. Jesus is our model of compassion. How often he entered into the suffering of the other in love. He neither rejected nor turned away from those most in need. Rather he ministered to them. Whether they were lepers or paralytics, public sinners or the poorest of humanity, Jesus touched, spoked a word of comfort or loved them in silence. How often we have been given that grace moment, that divine appointment to do what Jesus did! Many times it is not words those in need want to hear. Our mere presence, walking with them in their suffering, showing them love means more to them words.