The Kingdom of God-Compassion

The Kingdom of God-Compassion
Jesus said to John’s disciples , “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard …the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.” The ministry of Jesus was divided into two the first being the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.  That is the word. The second part is that of action. The healing of the sick, exorcism, restoration of sight, restoration of life, forgiveness of sin. The teaching of Compassion was highlighted by Jesus on several occasions. In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus says to the crowd, “let the one who has not sinned stone the woman.” We are told that one by one the crowd left the woman alone. Jesus turns to the woman and says to her,” where are they that wanted to stone you?” Jesus, says to her,” I do not condemn- go and sin no more. “The World needs such examples of compassion. The parable of the Prodigal Son is yet another example of love and compassion. The young son spent the father’s money on a life of debauchery, but the father welcomes him back with open arms love and compassion in action. The Kingdom of God challenges us as Christians to show love and compassion in areas of our lives where we are easily given to judgement and condemnation. We called to love the unlovable. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is an example of love and compassion in action, she extended the Kingdom of God to the untouchables of India that they too could experience the love of God.  The untouchables of India are those born in the low cast who are condemned to exist in the low cast all their lives, born poor and die poor with no hope of every rising to the top. What condemnation! It is another form of slavery.  The Kingdom of God is about spreading the word and equally showing compassion. Our Parish feeding scheme is an avenue to show compassion to those who live on the streets and we need to support it financially and volunteer every Saturday to help with the feeding. The basket which is brought every Sunday with tinned food has been empty of late and the food collected helps the Wednesday feeding at the front Office. So please let’s use these avenues which we have in the parish to help the needy. The Kingdom of God is both Word and Action.

Fr. Barnabas Nqindi