Jesus, the Model of Compassion

selvam Year A

Reflection for 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A

Can you recall an occasion in the recent past when you were moved with compassion for someone or for a group of people. What did you see? How did you feel? And what did you do about it?

Did you stop with just seeing? If you just saw someone in difficulty and did not feel anything and did nothing about the situation, then you did not even feel a sense of compassion or empathy. If you did feel something, but didn’t do anything about it, then you felt an empathy and that is it. But if you did feeling empathy and reached out to them, then, you were “moved” by compassion.

The Gospel today tells us, “When Jesus saw the […]

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Innovative Capstone Assessment Models Beyond the Thesis in Master’s Psychology Programmes

selvam Articles/Chapters, Publications

Sahaya G. Selvam


Abstract

Master’s degree is a liminal stage at higher education between the bachelor’s and the doctoral degrees. The expected competency outcomes of a master’s degree presuppose a development on the foundations of the bachelor’s level while providing a basis for an original contribution at the PhD level with subject-specific abilities in integration of knowledge, its application, and communication of the same, coupled with a set of skills in self-learning.

A capstone experience that generally marks the conclusion to the coursework assesses these outcomes before a candidate is awarded a master’s degree. Does a thesis or dissertation consisting of empirical research alone assess the programme outcomes, as is the norm in many universities? Could there be an integration of capstone experiences and research with a variety of possibilities, taking into consideration the […]

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Excellence: Doing well or doing good?

selvam Current Activity

Early January 2026, the United States launched a military strike in Venezuela and captured incumbent president Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Later Trump in his inimical style prided to a journalist, “we have weapons nobody else knows about… we have some amazing weapons. That was an amazing attack.” He even shared on his Truth Social page a fake Wikipedia entry describing himself as the acting president of Venezuela.

Yes, America pulled off the “Operation Absolute Resolve” with impeccable precision, that is what the press reported. Yes, it was done well, but was it right, was it good? Was it ethical or even legal?

‘Excellence’ is an overused term these days. Often a mere capitalist marketing byline. Academic institutions aim at excellence in education. Service industry strives for excellence in customer care. Government agencies claim to deliver excellence in public administration.

The […]

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