Does your compassion provoke action? Or is it a mere sentiment?
In Luke 7, we see Jesus encounter the widow at gates of the city of Nain who had just lost her only son. And verse 13 says Jesus responded with “compassion”.
The Greek word for compassion is a fascinating word known as “splagchnizomai”. This comes from the word “splanchna” (spleen in English).
The Greeks believed splanchna is what makes one “to be moved with compassion” (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity).
It was “splagchnizomai” that moved the Samaritan to stop and take care of the wounded man in the parable of the good Samaritan.
Does our compassion provoke us to take action? Do our bowels move us, when we see the plight of another? Or do we simply feel pity and move on?
Compassion of the Biblical kind always – every single time – moved people to act on behalf of another.
So, when did you last feel your bowels of compassion move on behalf of another?
Changi Chapel 
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