Compassion asks us
to go where it hurts,
to enter places of pain,
to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish.
Compassion challenges us
to cry out with those in misery,
to mourn with those who are lonely,
to weep with those in tears.
Compassion requires us
to be weak with the weak,
vulnerable with the vulnerable,
and powerless with the powerless.
Compassion means
full immersion in the condition of being human.
~ Donald McNeill, Douglas Morrison, and Henri Nouwen, Compassion
Rarely do I weep in worship. On Palm Sunday, as we watched several worship services from our living room, I was so moved, I wept. Our clergy spoke words that were filled with compassion and passion about Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, the crowd gathered, and their cry, Hosanna, which means “save us.” Jesus, save us. Yes, Jesus, save us all!
As we continue walking with Jesus this holy week, may we find strength in the one who leads us, and who stays focused on the journey, and who continues to gather disciples around the table, and who suffers and dies for us. On this journey with Jesus, may we continue to stay connected to each other and with the biblical stories that each day of this Holy Week brings, and may we keep our hearts and minds fixed on Jesus. This week has traditionally been one of the most difficult weeks in the Christian story with the death of Jesus. And it is especially challenging when news feeds tell us that this week could be one of the most difficult weeks to endure in reference to the consequences of COVID-19. Here’s what we know, though. Jesus does suffer and die. But on Sunday, from the story in the Gospel According to John, Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb to discover it is empty. Weeping and confused, a man in the tomb interrupted her grieving and inquired, “Why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” There is uncontainable joy when Mary Magdalene realizes this man is Jesus, and she exclaims, “I have seen the Lord!” This is the Lord who comes to be fully immersed with us in our humanness. He comes with deep and abiding compassion to share in our brokenness, fear, confusion, and anxiety. He comes to sit with us in our sickness, to mourn with us in our loneliness, and to weep with us in our deep sadness. He comes to bring us joy and new life!
While our sanctuaries may be empty this Easter Sunday, our clergy will speak once again words of compassion and passion. In our hearing and participating via live stream, may our hearts be full knowing that Jesus, in all his compassion, will speak to each of us with an abundance of love, grace, mercy, and hope. May it be so!
Rev. Pam Holt, Regional Minister
