Inspired by Scholastica

How do we develop more compassionate hearts?  For some, nurturing compassion comes naturally because they have seen this virtue practiced in their families. For others, compassion needs to be learned by becoming more conscious of others who need help. Some people automatically respond with kindness to others. Some are so preoccupied, they don't even notice when someone is in need.  There is no commandment that says, "Thou shalt be compassionate." We have plenty of examples in the scriptures and the lives of the saints, however, that exemplify this quality. A stunning example is the story of the Good Samaritan, who encountered a wounded man on the roadside and stopped to care for him (Luke 10:25-37). He even took him to an inn and paid a servant there to make sure he had what he needed. This was after a priest and a Levite passed by and did not stop. This was Jesus' response to someone who asked, "Who is my neighbor?" A modern example of compassion: someone w...

Most of us skip over the fifth commandment: Thou shall not kill. We think we would never commit that sin — never commit murder. But actually, we could be guilty because there are many ways to kill. We can kill others with our cruel words. If we spread gossip about others and ruin their reputation, we are killing their good name. It is hard to stop slander, because words spread rapidly and we cannot know how many people have heard the lies and have told others.  Even if something we say is true, it should not be publicized for everyone, since we need to try to protect a person’s good name. We can also kill others by ignoring them. By isolating those with whom we're not comfortable from our company, they can feel they are not valuable or worthy. This could lead to feelings of worthlessness and self-hatred. Such behavior might make the people feel like they have no value and might even consider taking their own life. Another way we can kill others is through ridicule and shaming. Word...

I had not heard of loving kindness meditation, or Metta, before reading about it recently in the Kansas City Star. It is a form of mindfulness that can benefit both yourself and others, according to Abbey Bender, who wrote the article. It is very simple and can be done anywhere. You just need a quiet place and about 20 minutes to relax and focus. Bender suggests that you apply loving kindness meditation to yourself as well as others. She suggests using traditional Metta phrases, such as "May I be filled with loving kindness. May I be safe from inner and outer danger. May I be well in body and mind. May I be at ease and happy." You can use your own words, or focus on one or two phrases or mantras. According to meditation teacher Jack Kornfield, practicing loving kindness "doesn't always feel natural, and that's okay. It may also bring up feelings contrary to loving-kindness, feelings of irritation and anger." We just need to be patient and gentle with our...

When the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream with a message to flee, he took Mary and the baby Jesus and departed in haste for Egypt, just before King Herod's soldiers fulfilled his instructions to kill all the male children under two years old around the town of Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary fled with the baby Jesus into Egypt. They were among the many recorded in the Bible to seek refuge in an unknown land. Today, there are millions of refugees seeking safety in foreign lands. Among them are the immigrants at the U.S. border, who have been fleeing violence, poverty, and death threats in Mexico and Central America. Many have been waiting for months, even years, to be admitted into the United States. There are also refugees from Afghanistan, who were aided by the U.S. during the 20 years we were involved in the war against the Taliban. Some refugees are from Argentina, where a corrupt government is causing havoc. Others are from Haiti, where the government has collapsed and people are...

It’s a time for resolutions, people say. Yet, so many people are tired of making promises every year, especially since we usually don’t keep them. Maybe what we need to do is change the way we look at ourselves. Many of us feel a need to improve, change, overcome or the like. We think we’re not good enough, that we have to do hard things to make ourselves lovable. If you read Father Gregory Boyle’s book, Tattoos on the Heart , you get the message that God loves us as we are, that he always looks on us with love. Father Greg works with young people who have been imprisoned, are members of gangs, or on whom everyone has given up. He treats them like they are worth something, like diamonds in the rough. What happens is that these "riff-raffs" want to be what he thinks they are.  Father Greg, who started Homeboy Industries to rehabilitate gang members and street people, believes that God can’t stop loving us, no matter what we do. It’s God’s nature to love all that he has made wi...