What Can Jesus Do for You?
Compassion and Listening
Reflection By Jan Kwiatkowski
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28
Many years ago, I spoke with my pastor about some challenging medical things our family was facing. I hadn’t gone into the conversation looking for something specific; I was just updating him on what was happening. As he always did, he listened deeply and patiently, giving me all the time I needed. He was listening, not only to what I was saying, but also to what I might have left unsaid. Once I was finished, we sat for a few moments in silence, and then he looked at me, noting how tired I was, and asked a seemingly simple question: “What can Jesus do for you?”
I was more than a little thrown by his question. The initial knee-jerk response I heard in my head was “I have no idea,” which was joined by numerous other things simultaneously running through my mind. “Jesus do something for me? Jesus is my role model, guide, teacher, and faithful companion. Isn’t that enough? Besides, I’ve got too much to do and think about and worry about to be spending time and energy wondering what I need. Why should I bother Jesus with what I need when it seems minimal compared to the needs of so many others in the world?”
Despite all that going on in my head, I left that day without giving my pastor much of an answer, yet I’ve continued to revisit and respond to his question many times since then. Experience has taught me that when I allow my heart to know and speak its deepest needs, there is a compassionate, close-to-my-heart Jesus who hears. I’ve come to understand that to practice self-compassion is to accept a gift from a Jesus who hears, knows, and generously offers what my heart most needs.
Making it Personal: What was your initial response to the question, “What can Jesus do for you”? How do you understand the relationship between listening and self-compassion? What can Jesus do for you?