Reflection 25/The Will to Be Compassionate/Future
“And mark well my words: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. The Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister and to bestow his life as the gift for all. I declare to you that I have come to seek and to save those who are lost.
“No man in this world now sees the Father except the Son who came forth from the Father. But if the Son be lifted up, he will draw all men to himself, and whosoever believes this truth of the combined nature of the Son shall be endowed with life that is more than age-abiding.”
As they journeyed toward the base of Mount Hermon, the landscape became even more lush and green. Oak, poplar and wild almond trees grew alongside streams that sprang from the base of the majestic mountain, then flowed together to create the headwaters of the River Jordan.
Jesus instructed the apostles to make a base camp there and within a few days chose Peter, James and John to accompany him on a climb up the mountain. Up and up, they climbed, hiking narrow trails used by shepherds and goat herders. Before long, the vegetation grew sparse and the air became thin, dry and chilly.
They had to be careful, or their feet would slip on loose gravel as the climb became more steep and less forgiving. At last, the sun cast long shadows and Jesus instructed them to stop at a small plateau. As the light dimmed, the steep dark shapes of the mountain loomed over them while valleys below were sensed rather than seen.
There were no trees to muffle the sound of the wind, and it whistled by. Stars were beginning to shine in the darkening sky, and he told them to rest now while he went a short distance away to pray. Exhausted by their arduous climb, they grew sleepy and pulled their cloaks around them, cradled between heaven and unseen earthly things--they drifted off.
It seemed as if they’d just fallen asleep when a sharp crackling sound jolted them awake.
Reflection
Miles away, you were startled awake, too. Had you dreamt what you’d just seen or were you there somehow? It felt far too real and immediate to be a dream.
In this dream, you were suspended in the air above them all and could see the three apostles huddled together and asleep against a cliff that jutted upward from a small plateau on the mountainside. Jesus was awake and in prayer when everything shifted and that large, luminous part of him that exists within time was suddenly made visible--conferring with two celestial visitors, dressed in light as he was. Their speech was foreign and though the meeting was brief you could tell it was a momentous occasion of some sort.
It was then you saw the apostles jolted awake by the sound of the light and energy pouring from these light beings, creating static in the dry night air between them. You knew immediately that Jesus had wanted them to witness this but why? You could tell from the expression on his face that there was something incomplete in what was transpiring. A question was growing in his kind expression.
The visitors disappeared and as their light faded and Jesus appeared human to them again, the apostles went apart to sit together in stunned, awed silence while he returned to prayer. But couldn’t they see what happened next? Because that great, light part of him had not disappeared at all. It was holding the small lamp that he always held to search for the hidden good in things.
As he lifted the lamp, many different scenes came to light before his eyes. In some, people were crying because they’d been betrayed by a trusted friend. In others, they were falsely arrested and accused of things they hadn’t done. Some were thrown into prisons or killed by ruthless enemies. And some he saw were the tormentors who did these terrible things and couldn’t forgive themselves later.
As Jesus watched, the question that had been present in his expression slowly changed to certainty. And though the celestial visitors had told him that his mission here was done, he knew what his spirit Father was still asking for; Would he be willing to live and die like his children did in this dark world? Could he represent God as love to both friends and enemies alike, even in the most extreme situations? Not just now, but forever?
To suffer from injustice and evil and see humanity in those who had done wrong. Because, if he could, his children would find help and comfort in the most frightening and lost places they possibly could. Not just on earth but in all the worlds in his domain.
You couldn’t fall back asleep. Smiling at the thought that he was still your friend and had foretold that you’d see him again soon. He wanted to share the truth of who he was as a
friend, too. Friends make you feel safe in sharing who you really are—even if you are a Son of God on a lonely mountain in a lost world.
CHILDREN RESPONSES AFTER REFLECTION
This week, the children gathered for our reflection during their final week of the holiday. As they prepare to return to school for their final term of the year, the discussion became an opportunity to look beyond schoolwork and think about the kind of people they are becoming.
We talked about Jesus choosing to remain compassionate even when he knew that the human experience would involve suffering, injustice, rejection, and difficult choices. The children have been encouraged to think deeply about what it means to see the humanity in both those who are suffering and those who have done wrong.
The children then shared their personal insights from the reflection.
Benjamin:Jesus did not choose the easiest way for himself; he chose to remain with people who needed him. As I return to school, I want to learn to notice when someone is struggling instead of thinking only about myself.
Kyatwike:What touched me is that Jesus could see both the people who were suffering and the people who had caused suffering. It teaches me that a person can do something wrong and still need help to change.
Rihana:The reflection helped me understand that being compassionate does not mean pretending that wrong things are right.
Jerimiah:Jesus knew that his journey would not be easy, but he still chose to continue because of his love for others. This made me think about school. Sometimes studying becomes difficult and I want to give up, but I can choose to continue.
Shalom:I learned that forgiveness can be difficult when someone has hurt us, but holding hatred can also hurt us more.
Flowrence: Jesus was looking for the hidden good in people. Sometimes we only see someone's mistakes and forget that they may also have good qualities.
Mark:For me, the greatest lesson was choosing what is right even when the easier choice is available.
Victor:Me i learn that Real compassion is being able to care when someone is at their lowest point. I want to become more aware of people who are quiet or isolated because sometimes they may need someone to notice them.
Francis:The reflection showed me that people can make serious mistakes and later regret them. This means we should not believe that someone's worst action is everything about that person.
Desilanta:For me It made me ask myself whether I can remain kind when someone is unkind to me. I know it is difficult, but I want my character to be guided by love instead of simply reacting to how others treat me.
Salima:We may see someone doing something wrong without knowing what they are going through. This does not mean we should accept wrongdoing, but we can correct someone with kindness instead of humiliating them.
Erizeth:Pearsonally as I move into another class next year, I do not only want to become academically better. I also want to become more patient, responsible and caring. Success should include the kind of heart we develop, not only the marks we receive.
Christopher:The deepest lesson for me was that love becomes meaningful when it is tested by difficult situations. It is easy to love people who treat us well, but Jesus showed a deeper kind of love.
