My sister says the word “pity” can mean pretending to care about something but not actually doing the work of compassion. If I meant to pay lip service, for example, to priests in my recent post, Pontificating Priests, I’d say “pity”.

This is further evidence of my theory that the world is full of ‘real’ or authentic things which prove to be what they appear to be. Then, there’s imitations of those same things.

People pretending to be compassionate; people pretending to be priests; pressed-board pretending to be plywood. We are awash in fake things!

Furious was a more accurate expression of how I felt. I’d be lying outright if I said I meant to express compassion for such a fake.

Compassion means to suffer with. Christ suffered with us- I learned lately at a Catholic Church with my sister. He experienced every pain, humiliation, rejection, and abuse- the whole totality of awfulness a human may endure- so that He could say genuinely: I know you and I love you. And, be believed.

It’s very sad and beautiful. Now, I understand why Catholics love Him so much. He is not paying lip service. Jesus is authentic. He expresses love that no fake can mimic. It’s love above and beyond all our imagination. World Without End. Amen.