Most of us at one time or more in our lives have been disappointed or hurt by another person, even someone close. Perhaps we have hurt or let down someone else. People are imperfect and even with the best of intentions they sometimes fall short. But we have a high priest in the heavens who is perfect, pure, and above every sort of human failing. Jesus will never disappoint or hurt, and as Hebrews tells us elsewhere he is a compassionate high priest because he too has struggled and suffered. We can tell him anything and we can ask anything - he is there for us always.

This compassion was evident in the way the crowds followed Jesus and pressed in on him. They were suffering and desperate and they knew that Jesus could and would help them. Even the demons trembled because they knew the power of perfect love. In a similar way we allow our own suffering and difficulties to teach us to be compassionate, merciful, and wise. We then extend that to all we meet and by so doing become a channel of God's love and grace. We are the hands, feet, eyes, heart, and voice of Jesus in our world - let us strive to follow the pattern of his life.