Our value here at Avondale School this week has been empathy. Empathy is a phenomenal virtue that not only helps to forge meaningful human connection with others, but also attacks feelings of shame at their very roots.
There is often nothing more comforting when we are facing some of the harsh and ugly realities of human pain and suffering than knowing we are not in this alone.
Author and sociologist Brené Brown states it like this: "Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of 'You’re not alone'." In another place she states further that, "If we share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t survive."
So not only does empathy bring us comfort, healing, and connection in what would often be our most alone moments, it also goes to war against shame. Shame is that gross feeling we get when we begin to believe that we have failed and, as a result, are not worthy of love, connection, or belonging. So when we sit with others and share their pain, it makes it clear that those feelings are entirely false.
The reason I personally am so excited about empathy is because it is such a powerful but often overlooked component of Jesus’ ministry.
Hebrews 4:14-15 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
The actual word that was used in the Greek New Testament translated here as 'empathise', literally means 'to suffer with one who is suffering'. This is exactly why we can come to God boldly, without any shame, because Jesus is essentially saying to us, "I understand what you are feeling" and "I am right here with you".
Pr Michael Chapman
Gateway Church Pastor
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