Love & Compassion

We take this opportunity to acknowledge the successful all night prayer vigil we

had this past week. We acknowledge and honour our Prayer Warriors.

Congratulations also go out to those who walked the talk and lived to tell the

story, the energy came through on the pictures you shared.

Flowing out of the past weekend's readings and reflection on prayer we

move into the month of August. The church encourages us to reflect on

compassion throughout August.

Compassion can be defined as a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another

who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Here I want to introduce the concept of compassion flowing from our reflection

on discipleship and prayer, our main focus areas of last month. As disciples of Jesus

we continue His work here on earth. We are Christ's hands and feet, His compassionate

heart and burning desire for the salvation of all humanity. In our commitment to Discipleship and prayerful witness in action let us look at how we are to be compassionate.

Compassion is not only a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for those who

suffer but also the desire to alleviate the suffering. Here I propose a reflection on

the words by Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil

is for good men to do nothing.” I include good men and women. Does our Discipleship

and prayer life have clear and concrete results?

Are we content to say:

"May it be well with you my brother and sister. Be assured of our prayers." Or are

we truly concerned for one another and willing to perform concrete acts that will

actually relieve the suffering. Remember you and I we are the instruments of

Christ's work of compassion in the lives of those less fortunate.

Compassion is at the heart of a Christian life in a world governed by principles of power and destructive control. Compassion for the Christian is a force of prayer and action, an expression of God's love for us and our love for God and one another. Compassion comes from a place deep within the heart that is firmly connected with God and neighbour through prayer and love. Like Jesus we learn to live for others and spend ourselves in our concern for our brothers and sisters.

During this month we celebrate women. We have been living the benefits of having strong women who are the bastions of spiritual leadership. Women we teach us compassion through action. To all our women we pray God's abundant blessings upon you. We take special care to honour women this month, we have a high tea on Saturday 17 August. Let's make it special as only St Monica's can. I wish you well family of St Monnica and pray that we all find the grace of transcending our prayers into works of true compassion.

My best wishes to you and yours St Monnica's family.

United in prayer and charity

Revd Allie Josseph