Christian Sympathy

God enters human history. Jesus of Nazareth is his name, and he is crucified on a Cross:

Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously (Mark 8).

St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890) has bequeathed to us a magnificent sermon entitled, Christian Sympathy.

Jesus suffers. He has sympathy with us.

Newman then asks, ‘Why is the level of holiness so low in the Church?’ He answers:

Because I am not sympathetic enough with you, and you with me.

He asks, ‘Why is this the case? He answers:

Because I don’t share myself with you; I don’t share my thoughts, my feelings, my ups and downs.

He asks again, ‘Why don’t I share myself?’ He answers:

Because I think that you won’t understand me, since I am not like you.

Newman responds definitively. He answers:

But this is a fundamental error of judgment. We are all the same, no matter whether we are living like a saint, or have just repented from grave sin.

We are similar to each other, and if only we would share ourselves more – be more sympathetic – we would be drawn closer to God and to each other.

Amen.