Date Posted: 2025-01-23 02:07:48 | Video Duration: 00:28:26
At Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, nestled in the heart of the community, the congregation embarked on a spiritual journey to live with intention and compassion in the new year. This sermon, rich with wisdom and scripture, invites us to reevaluate our compassions and the shadow selves that might hinder us from experiencing a full and abundant life. Pastor Matthew, with a touch of humor and a deep sense of purpose, guides the congregation through the story of Moses, encouraging each of us to seek moments of awe and compassion in our daily lives.
In a world where compassion fatigue can often leave us feeling trapped, the sermon draws us to the story of Exodus, specifically the tale of the Hebrew midwives, Shipra and Pua, and Pharaoh’s daughter. These women, living in a time of great peril and fear, chose compassion over fear, an act that ultimately changed the course of history. As Pastor Matthew recounts, “Pity is when one’s heart breaks open with compassion for the suffering of others,” a sentiment that Pharaoh’s daughter perfectly embodied when she found Moses in the reeds.
The scripture from Exodus 1:22-2:10 illustrates how these acts of compassion were not just mere defiance but profound acts of civil disobedience grounded in faith and humanity. Shipra and Pua, by refusing Pharaoh’s orders, and Pharaoh’s daughter, by saving Moses, acted from a place of true self rather than shadow, demonstrating that compassion can indeed transform lives and the world.
Pastor Matthew further explores the notion of compassion fatigue, urging us to ask ourselves how we can sustain our compassion in a world seemingly overwhelmed by suffering. Three insights are offered: First, “you can’t give what you don’t have,” suggesting that self-compassion is foundational to extending compassion to others. Second, “be present to what breaks your heart,” encouraging us to pay attention to the issues that stir our souls as potential calls to action. Finally, he urges us to “trade judgment for awe,” reframing how we perceive the challenges others face.
The sermon is peppered with relatable anecdotes, including a story about a young woman who, inspired by a visit to an orphanage in Haiti, raised over $26,000 to provide school uniforms and build classrooms. Her heart, broken open by the children’s plight, led her to transformative action, embodying the very essence of compassion that the sermon calls for.
As we reflect on this sermon, the call to action becomes clear: to live with open hearts, trading judgment for awe and fear for compassion. We are invited to consider our own journeys, to examine our North Stars and South Stars, and to ask ourselves where we need awe and compassion in our lives. By doing so, we align ourselves with a lineage of compassion stretching back to the Hebrew midwives and forward into our communities today.
Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church reminds us that even the smallest act of compassion can change the world, just as a basket in the reeds changed history. By the grace of God, may we all find the courage to live with compassion and awe each day. Amen.
Watch the Original Video on Youtube
