Weekly devotion: Reflecting Christ’s compassion
The Karagheusian Health Centre, Lebanon
Patients at the Karagheusian Health Centre, Beirut
Lebanon is facing huge challenges. The recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict has damaged infrastructure, disrupted essential services, as well as causing many deaths and the displacement of at least 1.3 million people. This small country is also in its fifth year of a devastating economic crisis that has pushed over 80% of its population into poverty. The crisis has had a crippling impact on the provision of public services, including health.
Tragically, the World Health Organization estimates that one in every four people in Lebanon suffers from a mental health disorder, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In response, Embrace partner the Karagheusian Health Centre – located in a marginalised area on the edge of Beirut – is providing psychosocial support to vulnerable people. The Centre prides itself on taking a holistic approach to responding to their patients’ needs.
The staff are trained to assess the psychological needs of patients who attend for physical problems, offering counselling and therapy to all of those who need it.
Bible reading
‘When they [Jesus and his disciples] had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognised him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.’
Mark 6: 53-56
Thought
The compassion that Jesus showed to people in need was such that his fame spread throughout the region. These verses paint a vivid picture of needy people flocking to Jesus and casting themselves on him. And in the same way that Jesus was a refuge and life-giver for so many, the Karagheusian Centre plays a similar role in present-day Beirut.
Ask yourself: How can you show compassion to others in your daily life?
Prayer
Lord God,
We commit to you the work of the Karagheusian Health Centre. Thank you for the care and dedication of the staff, and for their commitment to serving the needs of the whole person.
May your hand of protection and blessing rest upon the lives of each and every patient who accesses the mental health services at the Centre. May you draw near to them and restore them.
Help us to reflect and imitate the compassion of your Son, Jesus Christ, in our own lives. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and make us sensitive to the needs of other people.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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