“His Heart Was Moved with Compassion” (Matthew 9:36-10:8)

by Fr. Long Phi Nguyen, SVD  |  06/12/2026  |  Sunday Written Reflection

A friend once shared with me a moment that revealed something deeply true about our world today. She was walking downtown when she noticed a teenager sitting alone on a curb, head buried in his hands. People hurried past him—busy, distracted, unsure, perhaps afraid to get involved.  She felt the same hesitation: Should I stop? Should I keep going? What if I say the wrong thing?

But something in her heart would not let her pass by. So she paused, sat beside him and simply said, “Are you okay?” He looked up with tears in his eyes and whispered, “Thank you for seeing me.”

That simple moment reveals a hunger many people carry quietly: the hunger to be seen, to be noticed, to be treated as if their pain matters. In today’s gospel, Matthew tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds, “his heart was moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus does not look away, rush past the wounded, or protect Himself with indifference. He allows the suffering of others to touch His heart. His heart is deeply moved—and His compassion becomes mission. He calls the Twelve, gives them authority, and sends them out to heal, lift burdens, cast out evil, and proclaim hope.

That same mission is now entrusted to us. Like the disciples, we are called to let the compassion of Christ shape the way we see and respond to others. Every day, we face a choice: compassion or indifference. Indifference is often the easier path. It keeps us comfortable, unbothered, and uninvolved. But it also keeps us distant—from others, from God, and even from our own humanity.

Compassion, however, draws us closer. It teaches us to see with the eyes of Christ, to feel with His heart, and to respond with His love. And this is precisely what our world is starving for—a gentle word in a harsh moment, a patient response when tempers rise, a small act of kindness that reminds someone they are not invisible.

As we begin a new week, may we resist the temptation to look away. May we choose compassion over indifference. And through our daily actions, may others come to know that they are seen, loved, and never abandoned by Christ.

Fr. Long Nguyen, SVD
Pastor