Compaixão
A compaixão é o coração de Deus em ação. Ele é compassivo e misericordioso, tardio em irar-se e grande em amor. Somos chamados a refletir essa compaixão no mundo.
As a father is kind to his children,
so the Lord is kind to those who honor him.
But you, O Lord, are a merciful and loving God,
always patient, always kind and faithful.
Your constant love is better than life itself,
and so I will praise you.
The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue,
Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.
So the Lord answers,
"Can a woman forget her own baby
and not love the child she bore?
Even if a mother should forget her child,
I will never forget you.
Jerusalem, I can never forget you!
I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
And yet the Lord is waiting to be merciful to you. He is ready to take pity on you because he always does what is right. Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord.
There is no other god like you, O Lord; you forgive the sins of your people who have survived. You do not stay angry forever, but you take pleasure in showing us your constant love.
"I will make the people of Judah strong;
I will rescue the people of Israel.
I will have compassion on them
and bring them all back home.
They will be as though I had never rejected them.
I am the Lord their God; I will answer their prayers.
"Long ago I gave these commands to my people: ‘You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need. And do not plan ways of harming one another.’
You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
Suffering for Doing Right
To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another.
If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God?
Paul Gives Thanks to God
Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes! He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.
Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.
Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.
And now, my friends, good-bye! Strive for perfection; listen to my appeals; agree with one another; live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.