Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace. – Luke 1:78-79 (CEB)

“Compassion” is comprised of two Latin words: com (friendly, kind) and pati (to bear, suffer). The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines compassion as “sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” In the mysteries of God, these two unlikely words join – and in Jesus, they take on flesh.

The incarnation is an act of God’s deep compassion. It demonstrates God’s loving awareness of our suffering and darkness: an act not limited to the heart but made flesh and dwelling among us. In the fanfare of the heavenly host lighting up the Bethlehem sky or the blast of the trumpet as the heavens open up , let us not forget compassion: the mercy and love of God made flesh.

"Compassion" is among the top 1% of Merriam-Webster lookups. The world is still looking for dawn to break, for light in the darkness, for a path of peace. Advent celebrates that we need look no further because compassion has come to us.

Because of God’s deep compassion,
the Dawn from heaven broke upon us,
giving light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.
Immanuel:
cast the darkness from our eyes so we may see;
cover us with your compassion so we may have compassion on ourselves and others;
guide us on the path of peace,
until the day when we make our home with you.
Amen.