In keeping with the reflection on compassion I can do no better than reiterate the words of St Paul: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” (2 Corinthians: 1:3–7)
How people treat you judges them – how are you react to them judges you! Do not let your reaction to others force you on their path. Be true to yours and who knows, just perhaps, you may convert them and thereby place them on the better way toward salvation.
The more noble a virtue is the harder it is to attain it. Climbing the ladder of Divine ascent requires far more exertion than travelling down a slippery slide. Even so if we continue our exertions with patience we can overcome the hardest of obstacles. True, we may not be able to see the efforts of our labour immediately but that does not mean we have not being transformed into something new and better and worthy to be addressed by Christ with well done good and faithful servant at our earthly journey’s end.
Each and every one of us whether we know it or not is a prize either to the Lord of this world or the Lord of the next. The battle for each one of us rages within relentlessly. Although our eyes can aspire upwards the reality is that for most of us we are mired in the cares of this world. It is in how we prioritise what is important to us that attracts us to one Lord or the other. For all that, you cannot serve two masters and you must decide which to follow. There is no fence sitting in life.