Compassion

There's an old story of a bishop whose cathedral was about to be robbed by a motley crew of traveling bandits. Entering the church, they demanded to see the bishop who was cloistered in his study.

Upon seeing the robbers he was surprised when they demanded the "treasures of the church." He held up his hand and said, "I'll be right back."

The bishop went to the shelter and gathered up the poor.

He returned to the bandits surprise and announced, "these....these are the treasures of the church."

The thugs walked away empty handed.

In the community where I live there are pressing needs all around. The church where I serve is being inundated with calls asking for assistance in these depressed economic times.

Temptation lurks constantly to make judgments about the "less fortunate." We are tempted to look at them and make sweeping generalizations.

I am learning that there is a big difference between "compassion" and "charity."

I am learning that the old bishop was right when he stared down the bandits..."these....these are the treasures of the church."

The scripture takes on new meaning when Jesus said,

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:21