from Luke 7
‘Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
‘ … his heart went out to her…’ Jesus visits the town of Nain. Walking to the town gate, by chance, he sees a widow who has lost her son, her only son. Seeing her sorrows, her tears, her, his heart moves to her. This is his empathy.
In the Greek ‘empathy’ is used to describe someone who is acting while being driven by passion. With such emotions, no one can see objectively or calmly. Jesus is not at peace as he sees this unnamed mother and widow. A woman who has lost her himself and now her only son, one who had to remind her of a loved husband’s lost. One sorrow calls up the other. She is alone.
But not quite alone. Jesus sees. He approaches. He feels deeply, with his heart going to her.
In the English version ‘empathy’ means that someone is getting to feel deeply (“more inside”) the other and his/her situation. This widow is not alone. Jesus’ heart is with hers.
They cry together. And so, …
14 Then he ( Jesus ) went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Our Lord came to Earth to show us, to see our sorrows. He came to teach us, as he walked among all peoples, how to feel even when immense pains were involved. He came to share our pains; to share us with his father and the Spirit.
He came to teach us how to feel, to feel deeply.
We are his heart, his empathy. Jesus comes to feel deeply.
Us.
Feel as Him the Easter week of 2023. Let hearts go out to those in need. Feel, by the Spirit, as Jesus. Deeply feels.
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