Harassed and Helpless

"When Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matt 9:36

I read this and think of how different a picture we have of this today. Judgmental and hateful people pointing their fingers at a lost, broken, and hurting world all while claiming the name of Christ. People who profess Jesus with their mouths but not by sharing his compassion. Churches that shout hate against culture and celebrities because of their values and morals, when we cannot expect unbelievers to live under standards to which they do not believe or yet even understand.

I think Jesus looks at the crowds today in the same eyes as he did in the gospel of Matthew, with compassion, knowing that they were harassed and helpless. Yet it breaks my heart to know that generally speaking it is the Church today that has done much of that harassing.

Should we not have a heart of compassion as our Savior did? Should we not strive to share and show this compassion to people who WE don't understand (Jesus understands them), people who are different than us, who hold different opinions and values, who live a lifestyle that we know little about.

Live a life of love. And remember that you were once one of those harassed and helpless. If not by the grace of God.