A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  “I am willing, ” he said, “Be clean!”  Immediately, the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Sometimes I think when we are confronted with people who are very ill, or who are deep in a life struggle, we don’t know what to do to help, and we forget that maybe all they need is our compassion. The Scripture says Jesus was filled with compassion for this very ill man.

Webster’s dictionary defines compassion as sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of another, accompanied by an urge to help.  Lord, teach us to be people of compassion who long to be of help to people in need.