Living a Compassionate, Humble, and Christ-Centered Life

The verses found in Hebrews 5:1-10 call us not only to reflect on Christ as the perfect High Priest but also on how we, as participants in God's mission, are called to live compassionate, humble, and Christ-centered lives.

by Father Lee Davis on October 16, 2024

Living a Compassionate, Humble, and Christ-Centered Life
Hebrews 5:1-10

The passage begins by describing the priest as one who can "deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness" (Hebrews 5:2). This imagery reminds us that true compassion comes from an understanding of our own flaws. As Christians, we are all part of this priesthood—not just the ordained clergy, but every believer. We are called to represent Christ to the world by offering gentleness and empathy to others, recognizing that everyone, ourselves included, is prone to weakness.

Living a compassionate life requires us to be deeply aware of the struggles others face. It also calls us to extend grace, knowing that we are not perfect either. This attitude can transform how we interact with those around us, allowing us to create spaces of healing, understanding, and love.

Humility is at the heart of this calling. In Hebrews 5:3, the priest offers sacrifices for their sins as well as for the people’s. This reinforces the idea that even those who are faith leaders must acknowledge their imperfections. Humility reminds us that we are all on a journey, dependent on God's grace. It counters the world’s obsession with self-sufficiency and pride by inviting us to see our place in God’s greater plan of salvation.

Christ’s example further deepens this understanding. Hebrews 5:5 points out that Jesus did not glorify Himself by becoming the High Priest. Instead, He took on the role in obedience to God, choosing to serve rather than seeking status or power. His entire life was one of humility and sacrifice—a model for how we should live.

But perhaps the most challenging lesson comes in verse 8, which tells us that although Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience through suffering. This teaches us that living a Christ-centered life may lead us through difficult seasons. Obedience to God’s will isn’t always easy; it may come with hardship, loss, or struggle. Yet, just as Christ’s obedience brought salvation to the world, our faithful response to God’s calling allows us to participate in His redemptive work.

For Episcopalians, the concept of the “priesthood of all believers” means that we all share in Christ’s mission. Whether ordained or lay, each of us is called to offer our lives in service to others. This may look different for everyone—some may advocate for social justice, others may care for the poor, or bring healing to the brokenhearted. Every act of kindness, generosity, and compassion is an offering, a reflection of Christ's love at work in the world.

Hebrews 5:1-10 invites us to see ourselves not as isolated individuals but as participants in God’s ongoing mission of love and reconciliation. It reminds us that we are part of something larger, something eternal. By living lives marked by compassion, humility, and obedience, we become vessels of God’s grace and love to the world.

As we reflect on this passage, we are encouraged to embrace the example of Christ. By living humbly, serving with compassion, and following God’s will even through challenges, we find ourselves truly participating in the work of Christ. In doing so, we become partners in God's grand mission, helping to bring His love and redemption into every corner of our lives and the world around us.

Tags: faith, humility, priesthood

About the Author
Father Lee Davis

After a diverse career in marketing and finance and a sudden realization of the love and power of God that he discovered aboard a Navy ship, Father Lee Davis has the distinction of being baptized, confirmed, and received for Holy Orders on the same Sunday. He studied at Bexley Hall Seminary in Columbus, Ohio where he received a Master's of Divinity degree in 2009 and then served as priest-in-charge of St. Andrew's in Hollywood, Florida as well as an assisting priest at St. Benedict's in Plantation. Father Lee also worked as a Hospice Chaplain. When he left after a little more than two years, St. Andrew's had grown in membership and under his guidance extended its outreach into the community. He was also a pivotal leader of the Jubilee Center of Hollywood, a vital outreach ministry to the homeless and hungry, and served on the Board of Directors for St. Lawrence Chapel, serving the homeless in Pompano Beach. He also served on several diocesan committees working with the youth of the diocese.


In December 2012, Father Lee was called as rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Damascus, Maryland. During his 8 year tenure there the vestry of the parish noted that "His dynamic leadership, inspired preaching, creative ideas and compassionate pastoral care combined to bring a new level of excitement, commitment, and growth among the congregation." Through his leadership, he developed partnerships with other organizations in the community, helped establish a transitional home for victim's of domestic violence, began the process of developing affordable senior housing on some of the acreages of land owned by the church, and grew stewardship achieving their first balanced budget in over a decade. At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he led the congregation into the development of an online presence and with a couple of dedicated lay members started a feeding program for families in need which continues today. He served in the Diocese of Washington DC helping in the implementation of a Diaconate Formation program as well as being on the Board of Directors of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association and serving on the Diocesan Executive Council.


Amidst the COVID pandemic, Father Lee accepted the call to be our rector and began his tenure in September 2019. His leadership has already blessed our community.

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