Compassion and Empathy — Thomas Merton

But I cannot treat other [people as individuals] unless I have compassion for them. I must have at least enough compassion to realize that when they suffer they feel somewhat as I do when I suffer. And if for some reason I do not spontaneously feel this kind of sympathy for others, then it is God’s will that I do what I can to learn how. I must learn to share with others their joys, their sufferings, their ideas, their needs, their desires. I must learn to do this not only in the cases of those who are of the same class, the same profession, the same race, the same nation as myself, but when [individuals] who suffer belong to other groups, even to groups that are regarded as hostile. If I do this, I obey God. If I refuse to do it I disobey [God]. It is not therefore a matter left open to subjective caprice. (From New Seeds of Contemplation, in A Thomas Merton Reader, p. 323)

Once again, the prophetic message of Thomas Merton speaks to a nation and world today that is filled with hatred, fear, isolationism, and division. God knows we could use a lot more compassion and empathy in this world.