The principle of compassion

The Fetzer Institute claims to “engage with people and projects around the world to help bring the power of love, forgiveness, and compassion to the center of individual and community life.” As a response to Karen Armstrong’s desire to establish a Charter for Compassion, the institute provided the wherewithal to make the charter a reality.
The charter declares that:
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
In his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:36 – 38) Jesus advises his disciple to be compassionate as your heavenly father is compassionate. This compassion is one of mercy, forgiveness, tenderness, empathy – it is to act towards others as God does. His compassion is totally gratuitous. We are not required to be deserving. His love and compassion are lavish.
The Gospels we hear from John this Lenten season come from the Book of Signs – seven stories which orient us towards Jesus’ humanity, the fullness of his humanity, expressed in his acted-out, lived-out compassion for those who are in need. He heals, he forgives, he mirrors his Father’s compassion.
The Fetzer charter makes clear that the way we act out compassion is by treating others as we wish to be treated. For them compassion has a drive of its own, it impels action.
It is thus not surprising that Victoire Larmenier, foundress of the Sisters of Nazareth, was deeply drawn to this particular Gospel value. Indeed it impelled her and her companions into the service of the elderly and young people. Her service is a model of compassion that we continue to emulate as a school community. Compassion that drives service.
The season of Lent is the opportune time to remember that God loves us, he will forgive us, he holds no grudges, and yes, he totally understands. If we remember and act this out, we will be mirroring his compassion, and therefore living out our own humanity.