One of the many things which former President Bill Clinton will be remembered for is the little phrase: "I feel your pain." There are times when we can see the pain which others are going through. We witness the hurt which is traumatizing their lives. We can sometimes identify with the various struggles which people are enduring.
How does the Church enter into these struggles with its members? It begins with a level of trust which must be developed. People will not share their hurts with you if they do not trust you. Trust takes time to develop. If people know that you genuinely care about them they may open up to you and say "I need help."
The Church is made up of real people, saint and sinners at the same time. It is the sinner dimension that causes us pain and sorrow in life while it is the saint aspect by virtue of our Baptism into Christ Jesus that offers and gives us hope.
If there was one who truly understood and endured pain it was Jesus Christ. Isaiah wrote: "He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surelygrief'sriefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried" Isaiah 53:3-4.
As we draw our life and being from Christ Jesus and His Word, it is the message of Christ crucified and risen which brings us hope and comfort. What comfort it is to hear: "Be of good cheer, your sins be forgiven you." The Church is called to take that good news to all people, including those within its walls who are hurting.
Many of the sorrows and struggles which we encounter in life are caused by sin. Sin issues need to be dealt with. They rarely go away on their own. God calls us to repent of our sins on a daily basis. As John declares: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" I John 1:9, 7c.
May we be real people who have ears to hear the cries of those who are in real pain so that God can use us to bring His wonderful Word to bear on their lives!
