Jesus the Healer: Moved with Compassion

Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.  ~Nelson Mandela

Welcome dear friend, to a series on the healing stories of Jesus. The root of the word healing in New Testament Greek, sozo, is the same as that of salvation and wholeness.  (UM Book of Worship) 

I invite you to enter into a time of Lectio Divina, deep prayer with scripture, as we explore one of the healing stories of Jesus.  Gather your journal if you have one, your bible and something to write with or simply use your computer, I've provided everything you need.

The word compassion means "to suffer with."  Jesus was a man who suffered with many people along the path in his journey.  He was a man who noticed people, who listened to their cries for mercy, and who responded.  In our passage for this week, the men sitting on the side of the road cried out for mercy but Jesus asked the men specifically what they wanted from him.  When they told him they wanted their eyes to be opened, he cured them immediately of their blindness because he felt their suffering and in that moment he suffered with them.  They responded by following him along the way.   Sometimes in ministry, I find myself feeling sorry for people but that is not compassion because it moves my mind but not my heart.  I am sometimes able to disconnect myself from their suffering.  I find this happens mostly when I am too busy to truly pay attention, to truly notice, to listen not just to the stories but to the deepest need.  Our culture, and many of our politicians think we need to work longer hours, to be more productive, to give and give and give more of ourselves to our work.  But ... I think they are wrong.  I think we need to pause, to notice, to listen, and to respond to the suffering of those around us.  I want to follow Jesus, the man moved by compassion.  Do you want to follow Jesus?    

Take a moment to begin with a Breath Prayer.

Breathing in ... Healing Compassionate Jesus 

Breathing out ... Fill me with compassion for others

Repeat your breath prayer until you feel relaxed and centered

Pray for illumination of the text, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:   Healing Compassionate Jesus, I want to be moved by compassion for others as you were.  I want to be a compassionate and healing presence in the world as you were.  Open my eyes to the suffering of others and help me to suffer with them.  Help me to make a difference. Amen.

1.  Lectio/Read:   Matthew 20:29-34 (NET)

As you read, perhaps there is a word or phrase that will draw you to it.  Pay attention to the men sitting by the side of the road, and to Jesus.  Who in the story is God drawing your attention to, what word or phrase is calling you?  Simply sit with your person, your word or phrase and let yourself be moved with compassion as you read.

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed them. Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” The crowd scolded them to get them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons, Folio from Walters manuscript W.592, Jesus heals two blind men.

 

2. Meditatio/Meditation 

Read the text a second time.  You may find that the same word has energy for you, but you may also find that another word has become more alive with meaning.  Pay attention to the energy this word has for you and consider how it illuminates your life right now.  Is there someone who needs your compassion right now?  If so, take your word or phrase and write freely for that person or situation, in your journal or on your computer.  Perhaps God will show you how you need to pray for that person or what you can do for them.  If that person is you, pay special attention to how God is speaking to your situation.  Don't think about what you are writing as you let God lead you deeper.

3. Oratio/Pray  

Read the text a third time.  Then read your own writing if you wrote anything.  Are there any connections you can make between what you read and the writing that flowed from your reading?  How do you respond to how God is calling you?   How does this passage call upon you to suffer with others?   What do you want to say to God about what you are hearing?  Take a moment to write again in your journal or on your computer as a prayer in response to what you have heard.  

4. Contemplatio/Contemplation  

Take a moment to pause.  Allow your breath prayer to emerge again.  You can use the same one from the beginning or perhaps a new one will emerge for you.  As you continue to pray, let the words fade away into silence. Spend time simply "be"ing with God. 

Breathing in ... Merciful Jesus, Compassionate Healer

Breathing out ... Immerse me with compassion as I suffer with others

Repeat your breath prayer until it fades into silence ... 

Allow your experience of praying with this healing story of Jesus to come to a close when you are ready to move on.  Let the Spirit lead you and guide you into the presence of God as you engage your life as a loving and healing presence to others. 

Close with a prayer to send yourself into the world, use this one or pray what emerges from within you:  Merciful Jesus, Compassionate Healer, lead me and guide me as I follow you.  Help me as I discern where I can suffer with others and reach out with your healing love and grace.  Amen.