Reflection 47: Recognizing the Needs of Others Often times we can be so preoccupied with ourselves and our own problems that we fail to see the struggles and needs of those around us, especially those of our own family. At times, because we are so self-consumed, we run the risk of adding unnecessary burdens to those we are called to love and care for. We need to foster within our hearts true Christ-like empathy and compassion for each person we encounter (See Diary #117).
Do you see the needs of those in your life? Are you aware of their wounds and burdens. Do you sense when they are sad and overwhelmed? Do you add to their sorrow or do you seek to lift them up? Reflect, today, upon the great gift of an empathetic and compassionate heart. True Christian empathy is a human response of love for those all around us. It’s an act of Mercy we must foster so as to lighten the burden of those entrusted to our care.
Lord, help me to have a heart full of true empathy. Help me to sense the struggles and needs of others around me and to turn my eyes from myself to the needs that they carry. Lord, You are full of compassion. Help me also to be filled with compassion for all. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Image of Divine Mercy made available by The Congregation of the Sisters of Merciful Jesus. © All rights reserved. See their website:
“On the initiative of the Foundation of the Apostles of Merciful Jesus operating at the Church of the Society of Jesus in Łódź (the organizer and sponsor of the 2003 conservation works on the Divine Mercy painting), in March 2004 a professional photographic session of the first painting of the Merciful Jesus was held at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius. The photocopies developed from the 20cm slides taken with a professional camera have been made available by the Foundation for the public evangelization.” Explanation from:
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