“Be compassionate.” Mt. 9:9-13

Faced with Jesus’ call, those of us who are physically, emotionally or socially ill can experience many reactions: some rejoice at the relief we can have; others are scandalized to see us sitting at their table; some celebrate God’s love, others try to exclude us from the path; some care for and feed that call, others ignore and judge it. However, Jesus insists on continuing to heal those he calls and insists that what is important is compassion. What a credible witness it would be for today’s world to see families, communities, parishes in which compassion was the path of evangelization.