--- title: For I Am Compassionate description: Explore the meaning of compassion in our lives and faith, reflecting on personal struggles and the importance of community prayer during Mass. image: https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hubfs/rsz_compassion.jpg --- [Go Back Up](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/vicki-klima-liturgy-blog/for-i-am-compassionate#top) [Skip to Content](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/vicki-klima-liturgy-blog/for-i-am-compassionate#body) [![vicki-klima-liturgy](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hubfs/vicki-klima-liturgy.svg "vicki-klima-liturgy")](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/) Toggle Menu - [HOME](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org) - [BOOK](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/participation-of-the-heart) - [BLOG](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/vicki-klima-liturgy-blog) - [ABOUT](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/about-vicki-klima) - [CONTACT](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/contact-vicki-klima-connect-on-liturgy-worship) # For I Am Compassionate October 22, 2026 • Written by Vicki Klima ![](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hubfs/rsz_compassion.jpg) Share article [mailto:?subject=For%20I%20Am%20Compassionate&body=https%3A%2F%2Fvickiklimaliturgy.org%2Fvicki-klima-liturgy-blog%2Ffor-i-am-compassionate](mailto:?subject=For%20I%20Am%20Compassionate&body=https%3A%2F%2Fvickiklimaliturgy.org%2Fvicki-klima-liturgy-blog%2Ffor-i-am-compassionate) Exodus 22:25-26. One more thought on this Sunday’s reading from Exodus. “If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in? If he cries out to me, I will hear him; *for I am compassionate*.” The word **compassion** is made up of two parts: **com** meaning *with* and **pati** meaning *to suffer* – in other words, *to suffer with another*. Some synonyms for compassion are sympathy, empathy, kindness, tenderheartedness, deep concern. The root meaning of “to suffer with” reminds of times we can leave our own self behind and ache for the situation happening to a loved one. I think especially of children and parents. I listen to friends talk about a struggle or ailment of a child, and how they would rather take on the suffering themselves than watch their child suffer. I have seen it when a person cares for an ailing spouse. I have felt it myself when someone I know is hurting, and it can be both physical or mental pain. I feel it when I watch the news on television and see the tragic circumstances of war, terrorism, prejudice, and natural disasters. My guess is you might join me in feeling helpless. I want to solve everyone’s problems (and my own), but I can’t. I have to accept that I can only live my own life – I can’t live someone else’s life, even someone I love. I often hear people say, “That thing you’re complaining about is a First World problem.” I think they mean that I wouldn’t even worry about it if I was living a different life and struggling with basic needs such as food and shelter. They are correct, but still, my worries, my pain, my body, my questions, my searching is mine. I have no answer except to trust God, pray about all things, and do what I can about conditions that touch me and the people I love. I can also listen in prayer to stirrings from the Holy Spirit. I hope that prayer will lead me to actions that may help someone somewhere. I bring thoughts like these to the Mass and know that I am with a community of like-minded people who may be feeling similar views. I can join with these people to pray for my needs, for their needs, and the needs of the world. I can give thanks and praise to God with others who also *see God as Creator, Omnipotent, Loving, and Compassionate*. I don’t know why God allows bad things to happen to people, but I believe God has a plan and a reason and has compassion for us. I have learned that through the words and actions of Jesus, the human face of God. Let us lean in and listen when we are next welcomed to the Mass: “*The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit”* be with us today and always. **Reflection:** How and when has God treated you with compassion? To whom have you shown compassion? How many prayers do you hear at Mass that have anything to do with God’s compassion toward us? ### Subscribe to Vicki Klima's Liturgy Blog! ![](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hubfs/imgs/vickiklima.png) [mailto:](mailto:) ###### Vicki Klima Vicki, a retired liturgist and parish administrator, is passionate about enriching Catholic worship. She authored *Participation of the Heart* to help Catholics engage more deeply in the Mass. With a Master’s in Pastoral Liturgy, she has led workshops, written for liturgical publications, and continues to inspire through speaking, writing, and her love of music and theater. You May Like These ## Related Articles ![](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/rsz_holy_spirit%20(1).jpg?width=700&name=rsz_holy_spirit%20(1).jpg) ### [Pentecost, May 24, 2026](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/vicki-klima-liturgy-blog/pentecost-may-24-2026) ![](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/rsz_birthday.jpg?width=700&name=rsz_birthday.jpg) ### [Liturgy is Ritual, Symbolic Action](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/vicki-klima-liturgy-blog/liturgy-is-ritual-symbolic-action) ![](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/rsz_heavenly_choir.jpg?width=700&name=rsz_heavenly_choir.jpg) ### [Liturgical Ministers](https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/vicki-klima-liturgy-blog/liturgical-ministers) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Vicki Klima", "url" : "https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/vicki-klima-liturgy-blog/author/vicki-klima" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-22T16:15:03.188Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-22T16:14:52.000Z", "headline" : "For I Am Compassionate", "image" : [ "https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hubfs/rsz_compassion.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/vicki-klima-liturgy-blog/for-i-am-compassionate", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://vickiklimaliturgy.org/hubfs/vickiklimaliturgy_wordmark.svg" } } } ```