Reflecting Christ’s compassion in our life

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

ONE unmistakable mark of a true child of God is this: like Christ, we are willing to complicate our life for the good of others. We do not run away from inconvenience when someone needs our help—whether materially, emotionally, or spiritually. Love always demands something, and genuine love never settles for comfort.

That is exactly what Christ showed when he saw the crowds. The Gospel says he “was moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36). He did not look the other way. He did not excuse himself. He allowed their needs to become his concern.

We are called to do the same. If we truly want to follow Christ, we have to be ready to complicate our lives by making room for others. Their problems become, in a way, our own. Their burdens invite our generosity. This is how charity ceases to be a nice idea and becomes a concrete way of life.

In fact, the more our life resembles Christ’s, the more complicated it will inevitably become. We will have more responsibilities, more sacrifices, more interruptions, and more occasions to forget ourselves. Yet these very complications become opportunities for holiness. They stretch our patience, strengthen our virtues, and deepen our love for God and neighbor.

The important thing is not to complain about these complications. As long as we remain united with Christ, they will never overwhelm us. Instead of seeing them as burdens, we can see them as privileged occasions to love. What appears to be a heavy load becomes a joyful participation in Christ’s saving mission.

More than simply accepting life’s complications, we should willingly embrace them. We should not wait until difficulties come knocking at our door. We should actively involve ourselves in Christ’s work, making ourselves available to those who need our time, attention, encouragement, and service. Love is proactive, not passive.

Of course, this requires preparation. We need to strengthen ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, morally, and above all spiritually. A generous heart needs a strong foundation. Prayer, the sacraments, good formation, and self-discipline equip us to give ourselves without burning out or giving up.

Christ remains our perfect model. His heart was always alert to the needs of others. He noticed the unnoticed, sought out the forgotten, and responded with quiet generosity. Remarkably, after performing great miracles, he often told people not to publicize what he had done. He sought neither applause nor recognition. Love was enough.

Such compassion demands deep humility and real self-denial. It asks us to forget ourselves so that faith, hope, and charity can take full possession of our heart. Only then can compassion become more than emotion; it becomes self-giving love that perseveres.

This is especially urgent today. Our culture subtly teaches us to prioritize ourselves—to protect our comfort, chase personal fulfillment, and avoid inconvenience. The Gospel points in the opposite direction. It invites us to develop the habit of thinking first of others, sincerely wishing them well, and doing whatever good we can.

It is not easy. But with God’s grace and daily effort, this way of living gradually becomes second nature. We learn to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. Compassion begins in the heart, where prayers, sacrifices, and generous desires know no limits. Even when our material resources are limited, our capacity to love is never exhausted. That is the compassion of Christ, and it should become ours.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com