In an Advent Unwrapped microblog, the Rev. Maria Christina Conlon reminds us of the importance of compassion.
As he finished speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Jesus did not mean that women are just baby machines but that every one that hears that word of love, of compassion, and nourishes it inside are truly blessed,
We define our self-worth, our identity, by how others define us. In the new world, I hope that we are able to look at another person in the eye with compassion for them and as much compassion for ourselves.
— Rev. Maria Christina Conlon is the Davenport Perth Community Minister in Toronto. She came from the Philippines in 1972 and has been actively engaged as a community organizer in the communities where she has lived in Canada. As she serves both locally and internationally in community organizing, development and advocacy, she recognizes the need for discerning the unseen. She was ordained by Shining Waters Regional Council in May 2022.
This microblog is part of the AdventUnwrapped collection of worship resources and spiritual practices.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.