Jubilee: Solidarity (Acts 16:19-31)

In a recent article, American author Xochitl Gonzalez argues that empathy is at an all time low because we’ve lost so many basic human connections. We can live most days without seeing another person. Why go to the office when you can zoom from home? Why go to school when you can take classes online? Why get together with friends when you can text whenever you want?  This lack of genuine connection has taken its toll on us. It’s eroded our capacity to empathize. We’ll hear about the suffering of those around us and even though we maybe kind of feel bad for them, we don’t feel bad with them. Their suffering doesn’t really touch us. And if the suffering of others doesn’t touch us, chances are, we won’t care enough to help.  In Acts 16, we see in the actions of Paul and Silas how empathy leads to solidarity, recalibrating us and society for the common good. Empathy, feeling with others, is an essential part of our faith. Empathy creates connection and that connection alone can dramatically improve a situation. But it doesn’t stop there, empathy also motivates us to put love into action because we’ve made someone else’s problem our problem, too. This is solidarity. Awakened by Christ’s compassion, we share one another’s burdens, and put love into action.