I was listening to a discussion on the radio today where the point was made that one of the biggest failings of our society today is the lack of empathy, that we are so busy pursuing the things we want that we seldom take the time to reflect on the position of others. How much do we really care about others?

 

These are generalisations for I definately meet  a mixture of people who give and give for others and those who are so focused on self that they just don't seem to notice the plight of others. Yet is seems sad that in our world which has travelled so far in its advancements in science and medicine, in wealth and technology we even need to be reminded of this.

 

Jesus of course would have counted this above all else, that the main goals of our lives should be to love God and love others as ourselves, and that nothing else was as important. In a time where Christianity is marginalised in the pursuit of self is it any surprise that we discover a lack of care, and instead of all the clever solutions proposed maybe we just need to come back to Jesus' teachings.

 

"Jesus said " ..so love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy' and here is the second(commandment)"Love others as well as you love yourself." There is no other commandment that ranks with these."

Mark 12 vs 30-31